544882 Sat Aug 02 09:29:33 -0700 2008 10 36 Spirits 0 3924349 OK.... well I've decided on my Everyday Scotch, Bourbon and Vodka. So now it's time to move on. Scotch and Bourbon were my main concerns, as I drink them the most. But I do like other liquors. So.... Now it's time for me to decide on my Tequila, Rum and Gin for everyday and large gathering mixing. For Rum I tried Bacardi Silver and found it absolutely horrible. I don't see how someone should be allowed to sell something like that. It tastes bad and it makes you feel bad. So for Rum I'm looking at Cruzan's White and or Mt. Gay's Silver. I need to stay cheap and with brands that I can readily get. All I want from a light rum is a nice taste, smoothness and something that won't give me a headache. For gin I'm looking at Beefeaters, Tanqueray, Bluecoat and or Citadelle. I like a very London Dry taste, I don't like Plymouth that much and am looking for a good Juniper taste. I've tried all of these, I just can't make up my mind. Bluecoat is a little on the citrusy side, Beefeaters is OK and I really like Tanqueray and Citadelle, with Citadelle obviously being cheaper. For Tequila well, there's not much for me to choose from for a blanco. I'm looking at either Jose Cuervo's Classico or Sauza's Blanco. I havn't really made up my mind about these two.... but I don't really like Cuervo at all. It tends to treat me a little rough. But I was looking at Tequila 30-30's Reposado. My liquor store can't get the blanco. So I was thinking about just getting the Tequila 30-30 instead of a blanco... I can get it for $25.00 a fifth, which is a little more then the Sauza Blanco, but it's 100% agave. So any help would be most appreciated. Thanks. Sat Aug 02 09:29:35 -0700 2008 181130 theginguy 1 3924433 I just fail to understand how one can have an 'everyday' spirit. I like to go with my mood and have a good selection. I don't keep much around besides premium spirits, except for samples I receive to review, and they get used in cocktails or given away fast if they aren't top notch. Life is too short to drink cheap or mediocre spirits. It's all about quality, not quantity. Sat Aug 02 10:07:51 -0700 2008 3924349 10732 JMF 2 3924491 To try to answer your question the best that I can, it's mostly a matter of budget. I can't afford to buy a lot of bottles. So therefore, I'm trying to find the best possible spirit for the best price. This combined with the fact that I'm limited as to what brands I can get at my local liquor store makes it necessary for me to find a couple of good affordable brands. Plus, my mood often dictates what type of spirit I drink and what type of drink I'm going to make. Once I find a good brand of anyone spirit, I usually am very happy to stick with that brand. With that being said, what I'm looking for here with this post are inputs from anyone who has had the above mentioned brands and or could suggest something similar. My main focus is again getting the best quality for the best price on a dependable spirit that won't give a hangover. Sat Aug 02 10:36:05 -0700 2008 3924433 181130 theginguy 1 3924844 For the gin, I think you've answered your own question. You seem to like Tanqueray and Citadelle the best, with Citadelle being the cheaper of the two. Therefore, go with Citadelle. My old standby for everyday gin is Tanqueray, but from your post, I'll try Citadelle next time if it can save me money. Sat Aug 02 13:39:13 -0700 2008 3924349 86402 brandygirl 2 3926949 Is Citadelle really cheaper? Tanqueray's my standby too, and I routinely get it at costco for less than $25/1.75L. (In fact, earlier this summer it was $19.99 with a coupon and I stocked up like mad.) Even BevMo's got that bottle for $26.99 right now, where Citadelle runs $21.99 for 750ml. Can I get a better price on Citadelle somewhere else? Costco also furnishes my default tequila, Cazadores Reposado (a 100% agave), at $29.99/1L. Sun Aug 03 15:50:28 -0700 2008 3924844 48555 roundfigure 1 3924885 Tequila - is there a reason you're looking at Blanco's? If you like scotch and bourbon, you would probably better appreciate an Anejo or Reposado. They have a little bit more of the "aged in wood" flavor that whiskeys have. Sauza makes some decent yet affordable ones, including their Hornitos and Commemorativo. Avoid Cuervo. there's not a single one of their products that is worth the money spent. Sat Aug 02 13:53:40 -0700 2008 3924349 76025 mojoeater 2 3927971 I think the Tradicional reposado is pretty good and a good value. Oh and the Riserva la Familia ain't too bad, either. So you can't completely discount the brand. Lately, I've been drinking Pueblo Viejo reposado- good (100% agave), inexpensive (<$20), but I've only found it in a liquor store in a very-Hispanic part of ATL. For inexpensive gin, I vote Beefeater. And I tend to like Appleton rum. Mon Aug 04 06:30:37 -0700 2008 3924885 12626 ted 3 3930334 For the price of the Cuervo de la Familia ($90 for 750ml at Bevmo), I can get two bottles of equal or better tequila. Mon Aug 04 19:53:45 -0700 2008 3927971 76025 mojoeater 4 3931103 Well, let's hear it. I'm always looking for suggestions. FWIW, it's only $75-80 here. Tue Aug 05 07:22:02 -0700 2008 3930334 12626 ted 1 3926138 For general mixing I've been using: hornitos mount gay plymouth Sun Aug 03 08:20:43 -0700 2008 3924349 150662 white light 1 3927976 My every day sipping tequilas lately have been Sauza Tres Generaciones Plata & Herradura Reposado. Mon Aug 04 06:34:32 -0700 2008 3924349 26725 swsidejim