Grtechguy
Grtechguy MegaDork
6/20/23 1:01 p.m.

I'm finishing up an addition to our home and looking to put a small bar in it.

We've collected a few interesting whiskey bottles that would be nice to put on display.

 

How does GRM store your liquor / other refreshments?

Beer Baron
Beer Baron MegaDork
6/20/23 1:26 p.m.

Hold my beer...

Here's the liquor cabinet and beer fridge. I have the liquor cabinet set up with a string of LED strip lights on a proximity switch so that they come on when I open the cabinet doors.

My common house-brand mixing rums, gin, and bourbon sit on the half-wall leading into the kitchen, and I have my bitters, simple syrup, and common mixers in the cupboard with my cocktail shakers.

I would love to have a proper dedicated wet bar, but it just doesn't make sense in this house.

Although... I could probably renovate that corner since I've got water and drain for the sink just on the other side of the wall...

Beer Baron
Beer Baron MegaDork
6/20/23 1:33 p.m.

And because I can...

I am drinking beer at noon (well, 1:30, but whatever) on Tuesday, in a bar that faces a giant car wash.

 

Grtechguy
Grtechguy MegaDork
6/20/23 1:40 p.m.

I'm jealous of the beer (even though I work at home and no-one would know).......explain....the snowshoes in late June?

Beer Baron
Beer Baron MegaDork
6/20/23 1:45 p.m.
Grtechguy said:

I'm jealous of the beer (even though I work at home and no-one would know).......explain....the snowshoes in late June?

I have no idea. Someone doing decoration thought they looked outdoorsy?

Welly
Welly New Reader
6/20/23 1:49 p.m.

Here's mine.

Stampie
Stampie GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
6/20/23 2:39 p.m.

Not really home or stored but this is what we're doing on our vacation. I wanted to educate my niece's fiance on whiskeys since he's a JD man at 22. First night we tasted the Still 630, Angles Envy, and Tullamore Dew. I explained their price points and today three days later he's admitted that I've won him over. Notice the JD hasn't been hit much compared to the Tullamore Dew. 

The Skrewball is a nice break from the serious whiskeys. 

Woody (Forum Supportum)
Woody (Forum Supportum) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
6/20/23 3:39 p.m.

A girl I know lived in a house that her three uncles built when they were single and living there alone. They built a bar in the basement. 
 

As you entered through the swinging doors, you'd swear that you were entering a licensed establishment. Big wooden bar, back bar, sliding top cooler, kegerators, mirrored back wall, hanging glasses, barstools, wagon wheel chandelier in the middle of the ceiling, tables and chairs down one side, booths on the other. Big tv up in the corner. 
 

There was a urinal in the laundry room. 
 

Your home bar isn't complete until you have a urinal. 

mtn
mtn MegaDork
6/20/23 4:18 p.m.

Head over to r/mancaves on Reddit. Some pretty awesome setups. As much as I dislike the term itself, I would love to have one. 
 

As it is, I have a yeti cooler that I fill with beer during the summer, and a fridge in the basement. I don't drink any other alcohol anymore. 

Steve_Jones
Steve_Jones SuperDork
6/20/23 6:00 p.m.

I've got one next to the pool. It's set up as a copy of a small bar in Anguilla. There are beers in the fridge on the right, soft drinks in the silver tub. Pretty bare as far as bars go, but a fun place to relax. 

Beer Baron
Beer Baron MegaDork
6/20/23 8:48 p.m.
Stampie said:

Not really home or stored but this is what we're doing on our vacation. I wanted to educate my niece's fiance on whiskeys since he's a JD man at 22. First night we tasted the Still 630, Angles Envy, and Tullamore Dew. I explained their price points and today three days later he's admitted that I've won him over. Notice the JD hasn't been hit much compared to the Tullamore Dew. 

Tully is very solid at that price point. Beats Jameson for my money. How'd he like that compared to the Angels' Envy?

If he's more into the Irish side of things, next you need to blow both of your minds with a bottle of Green Spot. Not my very favorite whiskey, but if I had to only ever drink one whiskey for the rest of my life, that would be a strong contender.

Steve_Jones
Steve_Jones SuperDork
6/20/23 9:25 p.m.

In reply to Beer Baron :

Were all the good people of the world washing their cars as best they could in skirts and suits?

Stampie
Stampie GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
6/20/23 10:15 p.m.

In reply to Beer Baron :

Oh he likes the Angles Envy better but my niece put her foot down once she heard the price point. But damn Angles Envy is good. 

Beer Baron
Beer Baron MegaDork
6/21/23 8:05 a.m.
Stampie said:

In reply to Beer Baron :

Oh he likes the Angles Envy better but my niece put her foot down once she heard the price point.

side eye teddy Meme Generator - Imgflip

Okay... thinking seriously though... I totally want to find a whiskey for him.

What price point would his wife be comfortable with? $30? $35? $40?

Did he comment on characters he likes? Does he like the bolder character of bourbon? Lots of body? Does he like the softness and shortbread flavor of Irish whiskey?

Good examples at comparable price to Tully that he should try:

  • Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon - A better bourbon than many at twice the price
  • Monkey Shoulder - a great blended malt Scotch. Rich and full bodied. Lots of fruit character. Very caramel
  • Paul John Nirvana - an inexpensive Indian single malt. Very tropical. Lacks polish of more expensive whiskies
  • Tin Cup - a very nice American whiskey.

I'll have to think about things in that price similar to Tully. It's hard to beat in that segment though.

 

Stampie
Stampie GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
6/21/23 8:45 a.m.

In reply to Beer Baron :

He's a recent college graduate that is working for the SC government so I think Tully is pushing the limits. I'm trying to come up with less expensive ones to show him that JD is just a bad choice. IIRC Old Grand dad was surprisingly decent for as cheap as it is. 

AxeHealey
AxeHealey GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
6/21/23 8:59 a.m.

In reply to Beer Baron :

I'll second the Monkey Shoulder suggestion. 

My dad is a Scotch drinker and always has something good in stock but his cheaper go-to has always been The Famous Grouse. Not terribly interesting but relatively inexpensive and easy to drink.

And here's our home bar as of 2 min ago. Pretty empty at the moment. I have plans to spruce it up a bit but that's way, way down on my list.

the_machina
the_machina Reader
6/21/23 9:09 a.m.
Stampie said:

In reply to Beer Baron :

He's a recent college graduate that is working for the SC government so I think Tully is pushing the limits. I'm trying to come up with less expensive ones to show him that JD is just a bad choice. IIRC Old Grand dad was surprisingly decent for as cheap as it is. 

For that ballpark, it's really hard to argue against Wild Turkey 101 as a high rye option that's in the right price point, and if you're looking for a great wheater at the bottom of the price bracket, Larceny has always been a crowd pleaser. Evan Williams BiB (white label) is also a great cheap option that provides some fruit notes to ponder.

Javelin
Javelin GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
6/21/23 9:48 a.m.

It all lives in the pantry usually, but we got it all out when my brother flew up to visit. 

iansane
iansane GRM+ Memberand Dork
6/21/23 10:13 a.m.

Some day... some day. I'll join your club.

Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter)
Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
6/21/23 10:23 a.m.
iansane said:

Some day... some day. I'll join your club.

Ah!!!!   Olympia Beer!! 

 

And a Husky.  I didn't have to look at your profile to 100% know you're in Washington state. laugh   (I used to live in Tacoma there by Proctor)

Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter)
Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
6/21/23 10:25 a.m.
the_machina said:
Stampie said:

In reply to Beer Baron :

He's a recent college graduate that is working for the SC government so I think Tully is pushing the limits. I'm trying to come up with less expensive ones to show him that JD is just a bad choice. IIRC Old Grand dad was surprisingly decent for as cheap as it is. 

For that ballpark, it's really hard to argue against Wild Turkey 101 as a high rye option that's in the right price point, and if you're looking for a great wheater at the bottom of the price bracket, Larceny has always been a crowd pleaser. Evan Williams BiB (white label) is also a great cheap option that provides some fruit notes to ponder.

Old Grandad isn't bad at all.  I'll second that and Evan Williams, but will also toss in "Dickel Rye"

iansane
iansane GRM+ Memberand Dork
6/21/23 11:37 a.m.

In reply to Hungary Bill (Forum Supporter) :

Ha, I'm just off Pacific overlooking the Tacoma Dome. My favorite sushi place is right off Proctor (the mandolin).

Mndsm
Mndsm MegaDork
6/21/23 11:58 a.m.

it's still a mess because we're still unpacking and trying to move in and E36 M3 - but this is how how it is at the moment. I need to have some wood cut to cover the expanded metal shelving- and the 6 cube will probably leave the scenario. I also have some whiskey coming in from Minnesota via Chicago due to a recommendation from stampie. 

mtn
mtn MegaDork
6/21/23 12:46 p.m.
Stampie said:

In reply to Beer Baron :

He's a recent college graduate that is working for the SC government so I think Tully is pushing the limits. I'm trying to come up with less expensive ones to show him that JD is just a bad choice. IIRC Old Grand dad was surprisingly decent for as cheap as it is. 

Very Old Barton is the droid you're looking for. 

Beer Baron
Beer Baron MegaDork
6/21/23 6:20 p.m.
Stampie said:

In reply to Beer Baron :

He's a recent college graduate that is working for the SC government so I think Tully is pushing the limits. I'm trying to come up with less expensive ones to show him that JD is just a bad choice. IIRC Old Grand dad was surprisingly decent for as cheap as it is. 

It really depends what directions his tastes run. Does he like bourbon? Scotch/Malt? Rye? Irish?

Bourbon or American whiskey will be easiest to find of decent quality for <$30. Bourbon is defined by being at least 51% corn (nothing to do with Kentucky) and if it just says "whiskey" it uses a mix of grains with none greater than 50%.

At around the price of Tully ($26), I recommend Tin Cup ($28), Wild Turkey 101 ($25), or Makers Mark ($25). Tin Cup stands out as an exceptional value. That extra $3 gets a much nicer whiskey. It's basically budget Stranahan's.

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