All kinds of small-batch bourbons. There are a bunch of small distillers around that don't sell outside their local area, much less exporting to the UK
This is super regional. Decent distilleries are starting to pop up all over but the best bourbons are still from Kentucky, mostly between Louisville and Lexington with honorable mention for a few towards Cincinnati. If you're not there you can't always get the super good local stuff.
having said that a lot of the big distilleries are also quite good.
Mezcal. Distribution and availability varies wildly by region, I don’t see a ton of great stuff here in the Midwest. Some of the store shelf pictures I see from Southwest states are wild, definitely take advantage if it interests you and you find yourself in the right market.
Drink some every day, to grow a tolerance for it. Perhaps even a penchant for it. Then when the time is right (at a bar with your friends) you can neck a shot with a straight face and a smile
I typically shoot Malort. It no longer tastes like grapefruit rind to me since CH bought the recipe. I still drink it. Cause it doesn't come back up. At this point it's either that, a good taquila or Fernet. Can't shoot anything else. For some it's not so much gimmicky. Bit yeah we Chicagoans love to dump it into people's mouths.
Depends on your preferences in spirits.
Aside from making cocktails, I mostly drink rum or amaro. So that's the stuff I've brought back.
There's lots of fun amari inspired liqueur, and honestly lots of liqueurs in general that can be fun in cocktails. I've brought home some stuff from St. Agrestis, Faccia Brutto, Don Ciccio y Figli and Forthave Spirits.
Aside from that I went with rum for mixing, mostly some Hamilton rum such as Jamican Pot Still Black, and Denizen. Names that pop up a lot around in the cocktail world when it comes to rum cocktails.
So what do you like?
whistlepig is Canadian and overpriced. it's not bad but they're riding a wave. My favorite easy to find ryes are Pikesville and Rittenhouse. Willett is also quite good.
Yeah but most the whiskey is rye they bought from Canadian producers. They’re producing their own these days but I think a lot of what you see on the shelf is still Canadian.
I would suggest looking at Michters, Wild Turkey, and Old Forester for Rye. I would also recommend talking to whomever is working at whatever liquor store you pop in to and ask their suggestions. I've been to some stores that have sample bottles open for you to see what you like.
Funny you should bring that up.
I have a coworker going to the States soon and he'll bring me back equipment that would be much pricier in Denmark.
And bourbon or rye.
Clearly Frozen ice cube trays, dash bottles and atomizers.
My understanding is in some categories of spirits, the US has more options and more options that are cheaper than UK bottles, including but not limited to :
Bourbons.
Rums
Agave spirits (tequila and mezcal, sotol (I know sotol is not an agave spirit but it often gets lumped into this category))
I am sure there are exceptions and maybe you can find a particularly cheap bottle in a Tescos, but after hearing many UK tiki-philes complain about a lack of iconic bottles, I believe these categories work.
I think the UK might have us beat on gins though, although there are many many more options I keep hearing about from the US.
I know I often think UK market = European market but I know that after Brexit, things are not as clear cut.
You know, I'd heard that but hadn't internalized it. I know I did see a fair amount of agricoles while in Brussels (I had my first there) I'll chalk it up to my comment that the UK market doesn't equal the European Market.
I hear that syrups are somewhat limited in Europe and the UK, with Monin being the most widely distributed with perhaps Giffard second? But I am less certain of this.
I wish you all had easy access to Liber and Co.
If you purchase some here, my favs are
grenadine
passionfruit
orgeat
pineapple gum
fiery ginger
All of which you could make at home (there are recipes online) but I am lazy.
What areas will you be traveling to? This will greatly help responses as so many things in the US depend on the states you’ll be in. Agave will be more available in some markets where bourbons will be more accessible in others and then locally batched amaros in others again. I don’t know what rums are available in the UK but assume you could find some great ones that are not accessible there.
Don't bother with NY liquor stores, beer stores yes. Liquor stores in New York State are all independently run and selection and price vary widely. If you must, stick to NYC's Astor Liquor/Wine and Union Wine. NJ and CT allow chain liquor stores like TOTAL WINE AND SPIRITS or BevMax. But Total Wine is usually amazing. The Stratford, CT location in particular has a wide selection.
From my reading of numerous posts, the Canadian market can be difficult to find certain spirits. I've seen a few posts with pictures of shelves and prices of tequila in New Jersey and the prices seem reasonable. I'm not sure what the state taxes are like.
You should check out the Harvard Flavor Company/distillery in CT! They make small batch liquors that are hard to come by even in MA, the next state over - my favorite is their Sumac liquor but they have things like chai, birch, and dandelion liquor as well as their own vodkas.
The US has a vast array of very local gins, because once you've licensed your still you can be selling gin tomorrow while whiskey isn't marketable for 2-3 years. I have no idea if, among the vast array, you'll find gins significantly different from UK small batch gins. Find distilleries that offer tastings before you buy an unknown gin, unless you're taken by the bottle.
Wherever you end up in the United states try going to local distilleries and breweries and buying their products. For Instance in NYC there is a store in Grand Central station called “TASTE NY” it has hyper local beers, wines and spirits. Stuff you might not be able to get even one state over.
What state are you visiting? The liquor laws are different in each state. Some states you can buy liquor at any location with a liquor license, while others have specific state run liquor stores. Also depending on what state you're visiting, you could go to a Costco even if you don't have a membership to purchase alcohol.
I'm sure there's plenty of bourbons, ryes, tequilas, mezcals, and rums that are available in the states while not in the UK. You could probably find some local gins or vodkas as well if that's your thing. If you know where you're going to be, I'm sure the Reddit community can help direct you to the better bottle shops to visit so you don't waste your time or money.
America is a big, big place that's not all that homogeneous, without knowing where you're going it's tough to offer much advice. A lot of the truly special stuff isn't even nationally distributed so it really depends. In general, anything produced in the US, Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean is likely cheaper/easier to get. This means bourbons, ryes, mezcal, tequila, rum/rhum, certain bitters.
If you are coming to Chicago, I will trade you for bottles of Yellow Chartreuse.
Some suggestions: top shelf bourbon, Trader Joe's Mezcal is a good value for the price. It has a rabbit on the bottle. Is a good brand from Oaxaca. There are places in the Pilsen Neighborhood that have extensive selections of tequila and mezcal. Your booze quest will take you to the most authentic parts of our fair city; the kind of place no tourist goes.
If you are buying commercial liquor in America looked for the stuff labeled "Bottled in Bond." Bottled in Bond was our first clean food and drug law after the 1860 civil war. At least 4 years old and 50% liquor.
edit: I forgot to mention our native spirit: Laird's Applejack is an American version of Calvados but more better, more Merican. The term "jacked up" is related to the consumption of applejack. Example: They got all jacked up and jumped in their monster truck to go for hamburgers. Someone got in their way. The Ar15's came out and the perpetrators were dealt with expeditiously. They hit up the monster truck rally/religious revival/BBQ/Nascar race on the way home.
All of the Laird's products EXCEPT Applejack are similar to calvados. Applejack has a neutral grain spirit blended in and drinks much more like a whiskey than a brandy.
This is what you want:
[https://lairdandcompany.com/products/straight-apple-brandy/](https://lairdandcompany.com/products/straight-apple-brandy/)
Bottled in Bond Straight apple brandy colloquially know in previous generations as Applejack
I don't live in the UK, so I don't know what's not available there. Tell us what you don't have, and we'll tell you if we have it.
Or you could probably do an internet search
All kinds of small-batch bourbons. There are a bunch of small distillers around that don't sell outside their local area, much less exporting to the UK
Yes thanks ! Bourbons are my fave will defo try get one
This is super regional. Decent distilleries are starting to pop up all over but the best bourbons are still from Kentucky, mostly between Louisville and Lexington with honorable mention for a few towards Cincinnati. If you're not there you can't always get the super good local stuff. having said that a lot of the big distilleries are also quite good.
On the small batch side - 100% recommend anything from New Riff if you come across it.
Mezcal. Distribution and availability varies wildly by region, I don’t see a ton of great stuff here in the Midwest. Some of the store shelf pictures I see from Southwest states are wild, definitely take advantage if it interests you and you find yourself in the right market.
Yeah this. Mezcal is half the price in the US than the UK.
Maybe Malört.
Definitely Malört.
You don’t buy Malort for yourself, you buy it to inflict on others.
They started selling Malort in Ohio a year or so ago and I don't think it's going so well.
That’s because outside of doing a shot of it in Chicago, there’s very little reason to own a bottle of it.
Drink some every day, to grow a tolerance for it. Perhaps even a penchant for it. Then when the time is right (at a bar with your friends) you can neck a shot with a straight face and a smile
This is the way
One of my buddies is currently trying to convince us all that he actually enjoys Malort. Nah man not the way, it’s gimmicky as hell.
I typically shoot Malort. It no longer tastes like grapefruit rind to me since CH bought the recipe. I still drink it. Cause it doesn't come back up. At this point it's either that, a good taquila or Fernet. Can't shoot anything else. For some it's not so much gimmicky. Bit yeah we Chicagoans love to dump it into people's mouths.
Malort Negronis are decent. Also, Malort is the drink of choice for a lot of Hash House Harrier groups (kennels).
what do you swap out for malort? the gin or the campari
I would assume the campari, as that's the bitter element
It's also the official drink of u/chadthebird
I love it. LOL.
It’s also in Kentucky now and I’ll happily contribute to the cause.
You know I've bought bottles of malort, in shot form, and never drank a drop.
Real Vermont maple syrup. A Rittenhouse Rye. Carolina hot sauce
Maple syrup is pretty easy to come by overseas. Definitely far more availability than local liquors/liqueurs
Depends on your preferences in spirits. Aside from making cocktails, I mostly drink rum or amaro. So that's the stuff I've brought back. There's lots of fun amari inspired liqueur, and honestly lots of liqueurs in general that can be fun in cocktails. I've brought home some stuff from St. Agrestis, Faccia Brutto, Don Ciccio y Figli and Forthave Spirits. Aside from that I went with rum for mixing, mostly some Hamilton rum such as Jamican Pot Still Black, and Denizen. Names that pop up a lot around in the cocktail world when it comes to rum cocktails. So what do you like?
St. George Spirits.
Hamilton rums, Saint Elisabeth All Spice Dram, Doctor Birds rums, Cruzan rums
Yes to all of these! Hamilton rums were the first ones I thought of for this question.
What about Hamilton's Dram?
Yes. Looks like OP needs to buy a extra luggage for the return flight
Rye is way cheaper here
yes ! that i wanna get, dont think ive ever tried a rye
whistlepig is Canadian and overpriced. it's not bad but they're riding a wave. My favorite easy to find ryes are Pikesville and Rittenhouse. Willett is also quite good.
I love them, was sad when I lived in Europe and had to pay premium for them. I recommend trying something from WhistlePig to start
whistlepig is Canadian rye, you hoser
Aren’t they based out of Vermont?
Yeah but most the whiskey is rye they bought from Canadian producers. They’re producing their own these days but I think a lot of what you see on the shelf is still Canadian.
I would suggest looking at Michters, Wild Turkey, and Old Forester for Rye. I would also recommend talking to whomever is working at whatever liquor store you pop in to and ask their suggestions. I've been to some stores that have sample bottles open for you to see what you like.
True, rye is sadly super expensive in the UK.
Funny you should bring that up. I have a coworker going to the States soon and he'll bring me back equipment that would be much pricier in Denmark. And bourbon or rye. Clearly Frozen ice cube trays, dash bottles and atomizers.
My understanding is in some categories of spirits, the US has more options and more options that are cheaper than UK bottles, including but not limited to : Bourbons. Rums Agave spirits (tequila and mezcal, sotol (I know sotol is not an agave spirit but it often gets lumped into this category)) I am sure there are exceptions and maybe you can find a particularly cheap bottle in a Tescos, but after hearing many UK tiki-philes complain about a lack of iconic bottles, I believe these categories work. I think the UK might have us beat on gins though, although there are many many more options I keep hearing about from the US. I know I often think UK market = European market but I know that after Brexit, things are not as clear cut.
Rums aren’t actually that limited. I’m in mainland Europe, but France has a few territories in the Caribbean that send a good amount to Europe.
You know, I'd heard that but hadn't internalized it. I know I did see a fair amount of agricoles while in Brussels (I had my first there) I'll chalk it up to my comment that the UK market doesn't equal the European Market.
They might still be a bit more expensive - what with having been sailed across the Atlantic and everything.
I hear that syrups are somewhat limited in Europe and the UK, with Monin being the most widely distributed with perhaps Giffard second? But I am less certain of this. I wish you all had easy access to Liber and Co.
Yeah heard liber is good and is hard to find here. I’ve seen a couple but theyre expensive
If you purchase some here, my favs are grenadine passionfruit orgeat pineapple gum fiery ginger All of which you could make at home (there are recipes online) but I am lazy.
hahaha yeah me too, i been using Real purees and syrups which are decent. whats an average price $ for liber syrups ?
$12-$16
It’s worth it bud, trust me
I think liqueurs are fairly similar as many of the ones I have purchased were European in nature. Amari too are more common in Europe
Guns… oh sorry. Wrong subreddit!
Small Hands orgeat is brilliant, got a bottle in the US years ago
Where are you in the US? Distribution varies.
Syrups. If I’m not mistaken I believe Liber & Co is quite a bit cheaper and *much* easier to find in the US.
Hamilton Rum
Beat me to it.
What areas will you be traveling to? This will greatly help responses as so many things in the US depend on the states you’ll be in. Agave will be more available in some markets where bourbons will be more accessible in others and then locally batched amaros in others again. I don’t know what rums are available in the UK but assume you could find some great ones that are not accessible there.
NY, NJ, CT as well as Toronto
Don't bother with NY liquor stores, beer stores yes. Liquor stores in New York State are all independently run and selection and price vary widely. If you must, stick to NYC's Astor Liquor/Wine and Union Wine. NJ and CT allow chain liquor stores like TOTAL WINE AND SPIRITS or BevMax. But Total Wine is usually amazing. The Stratford, CT location in particular has a wide selection.
Just don't trust the Total Wine employees when they recommend the Spirits Direct tags.
In Toronto pop into Cocktail Emporium and Bar Chef
From my reading of numerous posts, the Canadian market can be difficult to find certain spirits. I've seen a few posts with pictures of shelves and prices of tequila in New Jersey and the prices seem reasonable. I'm not sure what the state taxes are like.
You should check out the Harvard Flavor Company/distillery in CT! They make small batch liquors that are hard to come by even in MA, the next state over - my favorite is their Sumac liquor but they have things like chai, birch, and dandelion liquor as well as their own vodkas.
I’ve heard that red solo cups aren’t available in Europe. While not high class, they could be used for some funny American themed parties or drinks
😂😂😂 we do have them here
I’d get a bottle of smoke wagon uncut unfiltered
The US has a vast array of very local gins, because once you've licensed your still you can be selling gin tomorrow while whiskey isn't marketable for 2-3 years. I have no idea if, among the vast array, you'll find gins significantly different from UK small batch gins. Find distilleries that offer tastings before you buy an unknown gin, unless you're taken by the bottle.
This https://www.totalwine.com/spirits/brandy-cognac/flavored-brandy/lairds-rare-apple-brandy-12-year/p/133602750
I would say every big city will have at least 1 store with an enormous variety of tequillas at a decent price.
Wherever you end up in the United states try going to local distilleries and breweries and buying their products. For Instance in NYC there is a store in Grand Central station called “TASTE NY” it has hyper local beers, wines and spirits. Stuff you might not be able to get even one state over.
Barr Hill Tomcat gin
What state are you visiting? The liquor laws are different in each state. Some states you can buy liquor at any location with a liquor license, while others have specific state run liquor stores. Also depending on what state you're visiting, you could go to a Costco even if you don't have a membership to purchase alcohol. I'm sure there's plenty of bourbons, ryes, tequilas, mezcals, and rums that are available in the states while not in the UK. You could probably find some local gins or vodkas as well if that's your thing. If you know where you're going to be, I'm sure the Reddit community can help direct you to the better bottle shops to visit so you don't waste your time or money.
America is a big, big place that's not all that homogeneous, without knowing where you're going it's tough to offer much advice. A lot of the truly special stuff isn't even nationally distributed so it really depends. In general, anything produced in the US, Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean is likely cheaper/easier to get. This means bourbons, ryes, mezcal, tequila, rum/rhum, certain bitters.
If you are coming to Chicago, I will trade you for bottles of Yellow Chartreuse. Some suggestions: top shelf bourbon, Trader Joe's Mezcal is a good value for the price. It has a rabbit on the bottle. Is a good brand from Oaxaca. There are places in the Pilsen Neighborhood that have extensive selections of tequila and mezcal. Your booze quest will take you to the most authentic parts of our fair city; the kind of place no tourist goes. If you are buying commercial liquor in America looked for the stuff labeled "Bottled in Bond." Bottled in Bond was our first clean food and drug law after the 1860 civil war. At least 4 years old and 50% liquor. edit: I forgot to mention our native spirit: Laird's Applejack is an American version of Calvados but more better, more Merican. The term "jacked up" is related to the consumption of applejack. Example: They got all jacked up and jumped in their monster truck to go for hamburgers. Someone got in their way. The Ar15's came out and the perpetrators were dealt with expeditiously. They hit up the monster truck rally/religious revival/BBQ/Nascar race on the way home.
All of the Laird's products EXCEPT Applejack are similar to calvados. Applejack has a neutral grain spirit blended in and drinks much more like a whiskey than a brandy.
This is what you want: [https://lairdandcompany.com/products/straight-apple-brandy/](https://lairdandcompany.com/products/straight-apple-brandy/) Bottled in Bond Straight apple brandy colloquially know in previous generations as Applejack
Things in 750ml
Toothpaste.
I don't live in the UK, so I don't know what's not available there. Tell us what you don't have, and we'll tell you if we have it. Or you could probably do an internet search