VinePair

JANUARY 18, 2024

—Melissa Romanos, general manager and beverage director, Atlántico , Boston “A few that come to mind immediately are Old Grand Dad 114 Bourbon, Old Forester 100 Rye, Redbreast 12 Year, and Glenfarclas 12 Year. They’re all quality whisk(e)ys that haven’t needed a heavy marketing presence to stay on back bars. Bottled at a hefty 57.15

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Bartender Bartending Whiskey Head Bartender 126

VinePair

MAY 7, 2024

The primary reason to pick up any bottle of tequila is taste. It may be tempting to plunk down gobs of cash for these offerings, especially since they may turn heads when displayed on a home bar, but they will likely transform into dust magnets if they hold lousy juice. Fionna Gemzon, bar manager, None of the Above , St.

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Tequila Bartender Bartending Speed Rack 111

VinePair

MARCH 26, 2024

If your home bar shows a conspicuous absence of rum despite an affinity for Daiquiris, then you’ve come to the right place. Seeking the best rums for cocktails, we asked bartenders around the world for their go-to bottles behind the bar. Fionna Gemzon, bar manager, None of the Above , St. Volcanique.

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Rum Bartender Bartending Head Bartender 105

VinePair

APRIL 23, 2024

Which bottles are truly delicious? That’s where the whiskey world’s most underrated bottles come in. In general, underrated bottles tend to over-perform in their price points, and several of the bottles recommended are easy to find at most liquor stores. It’s the most perfectly versatile bottle I know.

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Bartender Bartending Bar Manager Bar Management 119

VinePair

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

In some cases, a vodka imbued with a little flavoring can even be a bartender’s friend, whether that flavoring comes straight out of the bottle or through something fancy like an infusion. Matt Bazcor, bar manager, Annette and Traveling Mercies , Aurora, Colo. “I Fionna Gemzon, bar manager, None of the Above , St.

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Vodka Bartender Bartending Head Bartender 98

VinePair

JULY 9, 2024

But as exciting as a fresh, shiny expression of tequila can be, there’s nothing as reliable as the familiar standby that always has a spot on your bar. Shane Mstroine, bartender/bar manager, Table 45 , Cleveland “I’m gonna go a little more niche with Fuentesca’s 2018 Huertas Las Antenas Blanco.

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Tequila Bartender Bartending Head Bartender 105

VinePair

AUGUST 14, 2024

Albert Beltran, bar manager, Wayfare Tavern , San Francisco “Whenever you’re at a loss for what to drink and just want something light and refreshing, look no further than a white vermouth and soda. .” ” —Hailey Cook, bar manager, Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge , Bend, Ore.

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Bartender Bartending Bar Manager Bar Management 104

VinePair

JUNE 11, 2024

The Kentucky whiskey can conjure up images of distillery tours, afternoon cocktails on the porch, or even just some eventful ragers — the last of which usually calls for more affordable bottles. Mike Lam, head bartender, The Bar Downstairs and Kitchen , NYC “Eagle Rare 10 Year is always a go-to for me.

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Bartender Bartending Head Bartender Whiskey 116

VinePair

AUGUST 22, 2024

Everyone has to start somewhere, and wanting to get more into brown spirits doesn’t have to mean dropping hundreds of dollars on hard-to-find bottles. To bridge the gap, we asked bartenders to recommend their favorite bottles for bourbon beginners. This is my personal go-to and I use it as the well at both bars I manage.

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Bartender Bartending Whiskey Head Bartender 105

VinePair

SEPTEMBER 24, 2024

Their guidance included distinctive yet approachable mezcals for newbies, a few smoke bombs for the adventurous, and plenty of bottles in between that will make your Margarita shine. Suzy Critchlow, bar manager, Pascual , Washington, D.C. They work with smaller mezcaleros to help them bottle and distribute their product.

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Bartender Bartending Tequila Bar Manager 105

Cheers

FEBRUARY 23, 2024

Queen Restaurant & Lounge in Miami has noticed a gradual increase in the popularity of gin among patrons, says bar manager Karol Ansaldi. We carry Old Duff Genever, and it’s a fun bottle to grab if you want to turn some classic gin cocktails on their heads.”

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Gin Infusions Bar Manager Bar Management 116

VinePair

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Sometimes, choosing to spend a modest amount on a more affordable bottle after years of passing it by can lead to finding a brand-new favorite. Bartenders are familiar with this concept. s Cyrus Noble bourbon is [made from] a traditional mash bill, aged five to six years, and bottled at 45 percent ABV.

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Bartender Bartending Lead Bartender Whiskey 105

VinePair

NOVEMBER 20, 2024

The service lives up to its three Michelin star ranking, the room itself is iconic, and the backbar is chock-full of unicorn bottles. The kicker: while you can make a reservation for the bar, they even hold space for walk-ins. It all began when Sebastian built a cocktail featuring chef Brock’s barley miso for the menu at EMP.

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Bar Simple Syrup Highball Head Bartender 105

Imbibe Magazine

JULY 8, 2024

Hanna Brown, Head Bartender of Agency of Record , New York City As a scotch lover, Hanna Brown gravitates toward Rob Roy variations. “As a bartender you’re using something that’s not actively being frozen, so it’s 32-ish degrees. ” Josh White, Bar Manager of Death & Co.

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Brandy Bitters Bartender Bartending 278

VinePair

JUNE 25, 2024

Whatever the reason, they compel the imbiber to reach for a singular bottle to match the moment’s zeitgeist. If you visit their distillery, you can volunteer to help hand-dip the bottles in their iconic wax tops. Patrick Gibson, bartender, Jack Rose Dining Saloon , Washington, D.C. It’s kind of my platonic ideal of a bourbon.

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Bartender Bartending Head Bartender Whiskey 111

VinePair

OCTOBER 1, 2024

Abraham Flota, bar manager, Prospect , San Francisco “I think both Mojitos and Espresso Martinis are universally hated by bartenders.” Colm Whelan, general manager, Desert 5 Spot New York , NYC “One drink that should be retired from cocktail menus is the Cosmopolitan. The Moscow Mule. Irish Coffee.

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Bartender Bartending Bar Manager Bar Management 98

VinePair

MAY 23, 2024

However, choosing a bottle to complement your next nightcap while also being kind to your wallet can prove to be a complicated task. Thankfully, 25 bartenders from around the world have come to the rescue. Hans Hockler, head bartender, Cedar Lakes Estate , Port Jervis, N.Y. “I I would go with Glenmorangie 10.

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Bartender Bartending Head Bartender Highball 105

VinePair

MARCH 19, 2024

It’s the rare home bar cart that has extra space for a constant influx of new bottles, though. That’s why we asked bartenders from across the country to share the new Scotch whiskies — some new to the industry, and some new to them — that have earned a coveted spot on their bars. Anselm , Washington, D.C. Paul, Minn.

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Bartender Bartending Bar Bar Manager 105

VinePair

FEBRUARY 22, 2024

” —Martin Fernandez, bar manager Rochambeau , Boston “Not a cocktail, but a spirit: rum. There is something very nostalgic about it, and it’s a great way to use a day-old bottle of red wine.” We make a pot and build a solera of spice and brandy additions each day. I’ve come to challenge this notion.

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Bartender Bartending Tiki Rum 116

VinePair

JULY 16, 2024

Whether it’s a new expression from an old, trusted brand or a label you’ve never heard of, you’re likely going to encounter something that recently rolled out every time you visit your local bottle shop. With each new bottle that emerges, the question must be asked: “Why should I buy it?” Evan Flynn, head bartender, Death and Co.

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Bartender Bartending Bar Gin 122

VinePair

APRIL 3, 2025

Its not just because theyre surrounded by whiskey bottles every time they step behind the stick. As such, their words hold weight, whether theyre selecting a specific bottle or a style within the broader whiskey category. Tony Goodman, bar manager, Madrina , Webster Groves, Mo. Juan Jose Liza, head bartender, St.

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Bartender Bartending Whiskey Bar Manager 115

VinePair

NOVEMBER 28, 2024

Empty bottles of the label, which are made from Baccarat crystal, routinely show up on eBay for triple digits. These bang-for-your-buck bottles can serve as an excellent introduction to Cognac, and can inspire deeper exploration into the category. They may ultimately become a permanent fixture on your home bar.

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Bartender Bartending Bar Manager Bar Management 105

VinePair

FEBRUARY 5, 2025

And we also serve my personal favorite, and the secret best deal on the menu, which is the Fiat a shot of Jameson served with a bottle of Moretti Italian lager as a backer. It’s only $8, which is, shhhh, cheaper than we charge for both a shot of Jameson or a bottle of Moretti on their own. 1 house cocktail, the Shy Lady.

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Bartender Bartending Head Bartender Shooter 97

VinePair

MARCH 24, 2025

Every visit to your local bottle shop comes with the possibility of discovering something new to add to your home back bar. Bar professionals ask this same question whenever a brand rep swings by their space and introduces them to a bevy of new bottles to populate their back bar. It really makes that note shine!

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Bartender Bartending Bar Whiskey 116

VinePair

JANUARY 28, 2025

Given there are so many options to consider, theres bound to be more than a few excellent bottles that fly under the radar. These bottles could be a new label with a tiny marketing budget, an underhyped special release, or even a longstanding product that doesnt get as much love as it should.

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Bartender Bartending Whiskey Speed Rack 111

Cheers

FEBRUARY 19, 2025

The popular cocktails weve seen on social media tend to lend themselves to brunches and a more all-day mindset, says Daniel King, restaurant and bar manager at Evelyns at the Hutton Hotel in Nashville. No wonder every top international craft cocktail bar seems to have dedicated most of their menus to it.

Zero-Proof 70

Zero-Proof Infusions Vodka Tequila 70