Spirits

Tequila, mezcal, and their cousins: what the labels mean and which bottles to buy.

What each bitter and modifier does to a cocktail, and which of the small bottles to buy first.

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

Tiered shopping lists at $200, $500, and $1000, the drinks each tier unlocks, and the orphan bottles to skip.

White, dark, agricole, navy strength: the rum aisle sorted by base material and regional style, with what to buy for each.

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.