Cocktail Basics 122: Do Expensive Spirits Actually Make Better Cocktails?

Cocktails

Jul 16

Walk into any liquor store, and it's easy to think the most expensive bottle must make the best cocktail.

In reality, that's rarely true.

For most cocktails, balance matters far more than price.

Premium Doesn't Always Mean Better

Premium spirits are often designed to be enjoyed on their own.

Many have subtle aromas and flavors that can disappear once citrus, sugar, bitters, or vermouth are added.

A $90 bourbon won't necessarily make an Old Fashioned three times better than a $30 bottle.

Instead of reaching for the most expensive bottle, look for one that's well-made and consistent.

The bottle is only part of the equation. A few simple bar tools often improve your cocktails more than buying a more expensive spirit. If you're just getting started, read 3 Cocktail Tools That Actually Make a Difference at Home.

There are excellent bourbons, gins, tequilas, and rums at reasonable prices that bartenders happily use every day.

The goal isn't to buy the most expensive bottle.

It's to buy the right bottle.

If you have extra room in your budget, consider spending it on things that improve every cocktail:

Those upgrades affect every drink you make.

If you love collecting whiskey or aged rum, enjoy them neat or with a splash of water.

Complex spirits often shine brightest when they're not competing with several other ingredients.

Great cocktails don't begin with expensive liquor.

They begin with good technique, balanced recipes, and quality ingredients.

A thoughtfully chosen $30 bottle will usually outperform an overpriced bottle used in the wrong cocktail.

Build your home bar around bottles you'll actually enjoy using—not bottles that simply look impressive on the shelf.

Paul DeVecchio