Stocking My Bar

If you look at my favorite cocktails, it doesn't require a full bar setup. Here are the few spirits I need, with my preferred brands.

Bourbon
Buffalo Trace or Maker's Mark

Rum
Myer's Dark or Coruba or Angostura 5 Year or Gosling's Black Seal Rum

Tequila
1800 Silver or Patron Silver

Mixers
Diet Ginger Ale, Ginger Beer (Cock 'n Bull), Limes, Diet Squirt

- - -

You can find Buffalo Trace, Myer's Dark, and 1800 for about $20 each or less. Another $10 in mixers and you have everything you need to make a Bourbon & Ginger, Dark & Stormy or Paloma.

If I have some money leftover, I could get some Simply Limeade, Limencello and Tennessee Honey to add two more cocktails.