7 Spirits Every Man Should Have In Their Drinks Cabinet
By the time March rolls around, most of the talk of New Year resets has faded. But it is still a smart moment to take stock at home. The drinks cabinet, especially after the festive excess and a winter of dark nights, can start to look a little depleted — so now is the ideal time for a considered refresh.
You do not need multiples of everything (unless you are a drinks geek like me), just one good, expressive bottle from each major spirits category. That alone gives you real versatility at home, especially when guests drop by for a cheeky dram or cocktail.
Here are seven excellent examples to get you started.
The Scotch Whisky
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Years Old
No respectable drinks cabinet should be without a good Scotch single malt. And they do not get much better than Glenmorangie. The north Highland distillery, located in the coastal town of Tain, produces one of the most consistent and flavour-packed core ranges around — and at sensible prices. Quinta Ruban enjoys a lengthy finish in ex-Port wine barrels.
Aromas of raisin, dark chocolate and baking spices evolve into caramel, red fruit and orange marmalade on the palate. It feels decadent, silky and luxurious, with late hints of toasted walnut, cinnamon, clove and freshly baked gingerbread. Perfect as a nightcap or as an introduction to Scotch for non-whisky-drinking friends.
Buy now at The Whisky Exchange
The World Whisky
Indri Trini
Indian whisky is having its moment in the sun. The domestic market is vast — India is the largest consumer of Scotch, yet this accounts for just 3% of total whisky sales*. The majority are Indian whiskies produced for the home market. Many are inexpensive, but there is a growing appetite for premium Indian single malts, several of which are now targeting success well beyond India’s borders.
Indri is one such brand. Named after the five senses in Sanskrit, Indri uses only indigenous barley grown in Rajasthan’s northern region. Trini translates as ‘three woods’ and refers to the trio of cask types used for maturation — ex-bourbon, ex-French red wine and ex-Pedro Ximénez sherry. Expect luscious notes of tropical fruit, honeycomb and caramel, layered with malty biscuits, citrus zest and cardamom.
The Rum
Black Tot Historic Solera
Black Tot draws inspiration from the history of British Navy rum. For more than three centuries, the Royal Navy issued daily rations to sailors, before ending the ‘daily tot’ on 31 July 1970 — a date now remembered as Black Tot Day. This expression is a sumptuous blend of rums from three Caribbean nations — Barbados, Guyana and Jamaica — delivering depth and complexity in equal measure.
The blend is matured in ex-Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, before passing through a traditional sherry solera system for a minimum of two years. The result is a decadent, richly layered rum that incorporates notes of fig, plum and dark chocolate. It’s equally enjoyable sipped neat or mixed into a cocktail.
Tip: Use it instead of gin in a Negroni, and it will blow your mind.
The Cognac
Hennessy VSOP
There are many fruit-based brandies in the world, but there is only one Cognac. The famed French region has been producing its legendary grape spirit for over three centuries and remains revered globally. Hennessy is one of the ‘big four’ Cognac houses — or maisons — that dominate sales, alongside Courvoisier, Martell and Rémy Martin.
VSOP, meaning Very Superior Old Pale, is one of the most popular and accessible styles of Cognac. The eaux-de-vie must spend a minimum of four years in oak barrels. This category was first developed by Hennessy in 1817 at the request of the British Royal Family, so it is as close to tasting liquid history as it gets. Expect soft, sweet notes of dried fruit, vanilla toffee and caramel, lifted by a warming pinch of baking spice. Classic.
The Vodka
Belvedere Organic
The word vodka translates as ‘little water’ in Russian, and its roots lie in Russia and Eastern Europe. Early records document pot still distillation as far back as the 15th century. Named after the Belweder Palace in Warsaw, Belvedere is a Polish vodka of high renown. Its elegant, slender bottle stands head and shoulders above others on the bar shelf — quite literally.
This vodka is made from 100% Polish rye and is distilled four times to achieve distinct purity and a soft creaminess. Ideal for classic vodka cocktails such as the Cosmopolitan, Martini or Moscow Mule. The brand also produces an innovative flavoured range called Organic Infusions, plus the excellent Dirty Brew Coffee vodka — perfect for elevating even the laziest Espresso Martini.
The Mezcal
Zacal Manso Sahuayo
While many may instinctively reach for tequila here, other agave spirits are increasingly making their mark. That is particularly true of mezcal, and new brand Zacal has already picked up several major awards. Everything is small-batch and artisanal, crafted using traditional, centuries-old methods. The key difference with Zacal is that its spirit is triple distilled for extra purity — most mezcal is distilled just twice.
This expression is made from Manso Sahuayo maguey agave, which grows semi-wild in the mountainous, volcanic soils of the Michoacán region of Mexico. That terroir contributes to a robust and expressive mezcal, offering peppery, earthy and smoky notes layered with a citrus kick and a touch of sweet butterscotch. Fabulous — and the perfect introduction to mezcal.
The Gin
Beefeater 24
This gin is a true bartender’s favourite and one packed with character. Created in 2009 by Beefeater’s legendary former Master Distiller, Desmond Payne, 24 is a more herbal, citrus-forward and higher-ABV expression of the classic Beefeater bottling. It features three additional botanicals — Chinese green tea, Japanese sencha and grapefruit peel — which give it extra lift and complexity.
The name refers to the 24 hours the botanicals are steeped to extract flavour before distillation. The result is a superb gin that works beautifully over ice or with a slightly sweeter tonic. It also mixes exceptionally well — hence its reputation as a bartender’s favourite — producing outstanding versions of classics such as the Martini, Negroni, or Gimlet. A modern classic.
*Source – Scotch Whisky Association report 2024.
