What spirits and other things should I buy for cocktail newb

[steviejasp]

Going to stock up on things to make some cocktails.
Can you recommend me some ingredients please?

[RDMcG]

Huge range of options here, so it depends on what kind of cocktails you have in mind...
here is a site with 12,000 recipes:

http://www.drinksmixer.com/cat/1/

[Mobile Chicane]

Lime squeezer

Awesome product. By far the most useful kitchen gadget I own.

[FLGirl]

Hello. How's my purple Cerb?

A true cocktail list is so extensive it would be hard to narrow down. Maybe best to look up sone favourites and stock up on those ingredients?

A blender (that can crush ice) would be pretty indispensible.

I'd add as the very basics:

Vodka
White rum
Brandy
triple sec
Tequila
Cachaca
Plenty of Champagne
Creme de cassis
Chambord

I'm also now partial to elderflower liquer (Waitrose). Even simply topped up with champagne/cava it's lush. Lovely added to Lychee martinis too.

I guess you may need a variety of fruit juices (try passion fruit mojitos!) and even frozen or fresh fruit depending.

When's the party?

[Wadeski]

A friend asked me this a month or two back, so a quick copy paste and here you go:

OK! you dont need to much and you will be stocked up forever. Sainsburys are now very good for cocktail spirits if you go to a big store.

Here are the cocktail cupboard basics:
base spirits:

American whisky (recommend Makers Mark)
Gin (recommend Hendrick's or Tanqueray)
Vodka (recommend Finlandia)
Tequila (recommend Cuervo gold)
Rum (recommend Sailor Jerry or Havana Club)

mixing ingredients:

White vermouth (recommend Noilly Prat)
Red vermouth (recommend Martini Rosso)
Triple Sec (recommend Cointreau)
Bitters (recommend Angostura. These are essential, so seek em out)

odds and sods:
a cocktail shaker (get a good sized one, the tiny ones are crap)
a tea strainer (to strain bits out of clear drinks)
lots of limes and a squeezer
sugar syrup (recommend Monin)
lots of ice (a big bag, not an ice cube tray full!)
cocktail cherries (again, sainsburys now sell these)

these things all have no shelf life so are a good investment. apart from the limes!

[Wadeski]

FYI this sets you up to make nearly all of the great "Classic" drinks:

Martinis
Manhattans
Margaritas
Daiquiris
Sours
Slings
Collins

[Original Poster]

I'd also quite like to get into cocktail making, Is there a website that sells everything you need? Not so much the spirits, more the mixers and accessories? Blended, shaker etc.

[steviejasp]

Hi Jill and everyone else! Thanks very much for all the info. I shall get myself upto Sainsburys at the weekend with my shopping list!
Cerb is fine thanks! Still got your Porsche?

[Luca Brazzi]

Mobile Chicane said:

Lime squeezer

Awesome product. By far the most useful kitchen gadget I own.

Just got one of these....very very good product.

[Jimbo NW]

A nice selection of the Monin range of syrups would be good. Boston shaker and glass, strainer, mini siv thingy, bar spoon... Maybe some high ball glasses. a muddler too for mojitos etc...