10+ year home brewer, and am really getting into spirits now.  I want to start making cocktails for myself, wife and friends on the daily as a nightcap / dinner pairing - fuck, I will even take a morning bloody marry.  I am currently building out my bar set - 24oz mixing glass, stir spoon, shaker, strainer, muddler, picks, coupe glasses, high ball glasses, Nick and Nora's, etc. dropping about $300 in barware.  Sticking with copper and gold rimmed glasses.  

I started trying to perfect the martini - and want to move into the Old Fashion. What's like the top 5 gins and bourbon I need to buy? Some for mixing, some for serving neat and sipping.  What other spirits should I start to collect?  Common top shelf only, but not doing the $200 bottle shit - yet.

I have an ok collection right now, and generally like Buffalo Trace and Yellowstone as a mixer for my OF.

To keep on hand, I’d suggest:

-Buffalo Trace
-Yellowstone (barrel picks or 101 if you can find it as it’s higher proof)
-Buffalo Trace Kosher Rye (one of my favorites, but hard to find)
-Woodford Reserve (any variety will do, as I enjoy them all)
-Blantons if you can get a bottle for around $120 or less

Cheers!

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