212515 Mon Jul 26 20:16:39 -0700 2004 14 18 Manhattan 0 1130811 Hello, all...I'm going to a 'Stock the Bar' party this weekend and need to pick up the happy couple something unusual and hard to find in Virginia (where they live). I am not very knowledgable about spirits (you've got a beer drinker here!) and thought it was worth a shot to ask The All-Knowing Hounds for guidance... I am looking for an interesting liquor store (perhaps in Little Italy) where I could find something fun. Any suggestions? A friend recommended Punt e Mes or a Finnish or Polish vermouth. Anything else you guys can think of that would be a memorable addition to their new bar ($75 or less)? Thanks!! Mon Jul 26 20:16:39 -0700 2004 0 Miyagi 1 1130812 I love Stroh, its a scandinavian rum that runs at 160 proof... it is positively toxic, try the liquor warehouse on Broadway AND Astor as they have the best selection downtown... the liquor store on Waverly And Sixth Ave. has a nice selection too. Mon Jul 26 20:27:06 -0700 2004 1130811 0 Zak Williams 2 1130854 absinthe!!! Tue Jul 27 09:11:19 -0700 2004 1130812 0 jason 3 1130865 Thats what i was going to say.. There is a great website that you can get it from england delivered to your house in two to three days tops. Tue Jul 27 09:52:01 -0700 2004 1130854 0 SueShe 4 1130873 http://www.eabsinthe.com/acatalog/hillsabsinth.htm Tue Jul 27 10:20:21 -0700 2004 1130865 0 SueShe 5 1130894 For absinthe for less, and less of a pain than ordering from overseas, you could get them a bottle of Absente, a legal version made from a different kind of wormwood. It's excellent, and only about $30 bucks a bottle at Astor Place Wine and Spirits. You could also go with a good rye whiskey, which is a little different...Sazerac if you can find it, Michters otherwise. Tue Jul 27 11:31:14 -0700 2004 1130873 0 micah 1 1130820 If they like after dinner sweet liquers (for the life of me I've forgotten if that's the spelling:) You could get them "XO Cafe". It's an excellent coffee/tequila liquer. Not as sweet as Kaluah and more interesting with the tequila. It's made by Patron. Great in the summer on the rocks or in the winter, neat. Mon Jul 26 21:59:56 -0700 2004 1130811 0 Chas 1 1130821 i'd also recommend getting them a bottle of premium rum: Barbancourt 15-year aged rum or the top of the line Appleton's (high-end rum: tasty, less common than buying single malt scotches, and a little less expensive too) Another suggestion: a bottle of Basil Hayden's small batch bourbon Mon Jul 26 22:02:48 -0700 2004 1130811 0 Simon 1 1130830 A bottle of Sweet Vermouth, a bottle of Dry Vermouth, good olives and maraschino's. Tue Jul 27 00:02:35 -0700 2004 1130811 0 toddb 1 1130862 its not too unusual, but a bottle or two of goslings black rum and a few bottles of ginger beer (or ginger ale in a pinch) to make dark and stormys would be a plus.... Tue Jul 27 09:48:37 -0700 2004 1130811 0 rawdog 1 1130934 A lovely aged calvados would probably run you about $35-$50. A wonderful french apple brandy. Belle de Brillet is a a sweet, amazing pear flavored liquer. Described on www.internetwines.com (and costing $46): "This classic, original elixir, one of France's great liqueurs along with Grand Marnier and Bénédictine, is a blend of Brillet Cognac and the essence of Williams pears (Poires Williams) grown in the Alsace region of France. The perfectly matured pears, personally selected by Jean-Louis Brillet, were picked at their peak of ripeness, macerated, then blended with fine Brillet Cognac. Twenty-two pounds of pears go into each bottle. Serve neat, chilled, over ice, or mixed." Tue Jul 27 16:10:38 -0700 2004 1130811 0 MB 1 1130971 I would agree with those who suggested after-dinner drinks. Limoncello is great for the summer -- intensely lemony. A bottle will run between $15 and $20. There's another Pear Liqueur called Douce Provence which is excellent, and very reasonable at $25-$30. A good single malt scotch never goes amiss-- I like Glenmorangie. Aged tequila or rum are also good. I would also second the recommendation for Warehouse Wine & Spirits on Broadway @ Astor. It has a huge selection and great prices. Tue Jul 27 17:16:55 -0700 2004 1130811 0 Caitlin Wheeler 1 1131005 Thanks to everyone for their excellent ideas (and keep 'em coming - I'm not going shopping until Thursday!). Looks like I'll be heading over to Broadway and Astor. Tue Jul 27 19:32:23 -0700 2004 1130811 0 Miyagi 1 1131132 Also avaialble at Astor is Pisco, a Peruvian or Chilean brandy distilled from muscatel wine grapes and the base of the fantastically refreshing citrus-y Pisco Sour. Wed Jul 28 12:46:09 -0700 2004 1130811 0 JBS 1 1131531 I went to the store on Astor you told me about today - what a selection! With my list of suggestions you all gave, I spent at least 30 minutes looking around. Lots of great suggestions and possibilities. I ended up getting a bottle of Stroh's ($31) and a bottle of the Belle de Brillet ($33) . I'm working off the 'a bottle for sweet times and one for the sour' sort of theme for the couple. Thanks to everyone for the help...Cheers! Thu Jul 29 17:01:49 -0700 2004 1130811 0 Miyagi