Spirits

Tequila, mezcal, and the rest — what the labels actually mean and which bottles deserve your shelf.

The small bottles that turn liquor into a cocktail — what each bitter and modifier does, and what to buy.

Six gin styles, what botanicals actually do, and which bottle to reach for in which drink.

Tiered shopping lists for cocktails per dollar, plus orphan bottles to skip and cheap bottles that punch above their price.

White, dark, agricole, navy strength — the rum aisle is a mess. Here's the map.

What vermouth, sherry, and port actually are, why yours has gone bad, and what to buy.

The five whiskey styles that matter, what makes each one different, and what to actually buy.