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Essential Spirits to Stock in Your Home Bar

By Colleen Graham, About.com

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Essential Mixers

Fever Tree Ginger Beer

Fever Tree Ginger Beer

Photo Credit: © Colleen Graham
Mixers are the non-alcoholic liquids that add flavor and volume to cocktails. Most of these you probably keep stocked in your kitchen anyway or can find at the local grocer for pretty cheap. Many mixers will keep in your bar for a long period of time, but do remember to keep checking their freshness and pay attention to expiration dates.

There are many pre-bottled mixes that you add a base spirit to like Bloody Mary Mix and Pina Colada Mix that are available at any store that stocks liquor. These are alternatives to mixing your own cocktails from scratch are okay but tend to leave something to be desired in the taste department. Realistically, the "homemade" version of a Bloody Mary and Pina Colada are not that difficult to make and have a freshness the pre-mixed version cannot duplicate.

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