Commonplace ingredients
Words by Simon Difford
We're keen that as many people as possible around the world, both bartenders and home cocktail enthusiasts, can make and enjoy your signature cocktail. Hence, we'd very much like you to use only commonly available ingredients so I have prepared the following list of commonplace bar ingredients.
- Blue cheese
- Cocktail foamer (foaming agent)
- Abbott's bitters
- Absinthe verte (green)
- Acid-adjusted grapefruit juice
- Advocaat liqueur
- Agave syrup
- Akvavit / Aquavit
- Albumin / powdered egg white
- Allspice/Pimento pepper
- Almond milk
- Amaretto liqueur
- Amaro - Averna
- Amaro - Lucano
- Amaro - Meletti
- Amaro - Montenegro
- Amaro - Nardini
- Amaro - Nonino
- Amaro - Ramazzotti
- Amaro - Santoni
- Amaro - Vermouth amaro
- Amaro Braulio
- Americano Bianco
- Americano rosso/rosa
- Añejo mezcal
- Angostura or other aromatic bitters
- Anise liqueur
- Aperol (orange-red aperitivo)
- Apple (fresh)
- Apple (green skinned)
- Apple (red skinned)
- Apple juice (cloudy & unsweetened)
- Apple juice green ascorbic acid adjusted
- Apple juice sparkling
- Apple Schnapps liqueur
- Apricot (abricot) eau-de-vie
- Apricot (brandy) liqueur
- Apricot jam (preserve)
- Aquafaba (chickpea water)
- Armagnac blanche
- Armagnac brandy
- Arrack - Batavia arrack
- Avocado
- Baijiu - Qīng Xiāng/fēn Xiāng (light fragrance)
- Banana (preferably overripe)
- Banana (yellow) syrup
- Barbecue sauce
- Barolo Chinato
- Basil leaves
- Basil oil
- Bean curd
- Becherovka liqueur
- Beer - American lager beer
- Beer - Belgium dubbel
- Beer - IPA
- Beer - Italian lager
- Beer - Lager
- Beer - Mexican
- Beer - Pale ale
- Beer - Pilsner lager
- Beer - Stout
- Beer - Weisse (wheat)
- Beetroot juice
- Bénédictine D.O.M. liqueur
- Bitter bianco liqueur
- Bitter lemon tonic
- Black pepper
- Black raspberry liqueur (e.g. Chambord)
- Blackberries (fresh)
- Blackberry infused vodka
- Blackberry jam
- Blackcurrant / cassis syrup
- Blackcurrant cordial
- Blackcurrants
- Blue curaçao liqueur
- Blueberries (fresh)
- Boker's bitters
- Branca Menta
- Brandy - Bolivian grape brandy
- Brandy - Spanish
- Burrata cheese water
- Butter
- Butterfly Pea flowers dried
- Byrrh aperitif aromatised wine
- Cacao powder
- Cachaça
- Calvados & straight applejacks
- Camomile tea syrup
- Campari or other red bitter liqueur
- Caper brine (from jar)
- Caramel liqueur
- Caraway seeds
- Cardamom bitters
- Cardamom pods (green)
- Cardamom syrup
- Carrot juice
- Cava sparkling wine
- Celery bitters
- Celery juice
- Celery salt
- Celery stick (fresh)
- Chamomile tea syrup
- Champagne - Vintage champagne
- Champagne Brut
- Champagne Rose
- Chartreuse Élixir Végétal
- Chartreuse Green
- Chartreuse Yellow
- Cherries (destoned)
- Cherry bitters
- Cherry brandy liqueur
- Cherry juice
- Cherry powder
- Cherry syrup
- Cherry tomato (fresh)
- Chili flakes
- Chili liqueur
- Chili oil
- Chili pepper (red)
- China-China
- Chocolate bitters
- Cider - dry apple cider
- Cider - med dry apple cider
- Cinnamon grated
- Cinnamon powder
- Cinnamon stick
- Cinnamon syrup
- Citroen Brandewijn
- Clamato juice
- Clove
- Cocoa powder
- Coconut liqueur (<35% alc./vol.)
- Coconut milk
- Coconut oil
- Coconut rum liqueur (35-40% alc./vol.)
- Coconut syrup
- Coconut water
- Coffee - Cold brew
- Coffee - Espresso coffee (cold/chilled)
- Coffee - Espresso coffee (hot)
- Coffee - Filter coffee (hot)
- Coffee - French press/cafetière
- Coffee - Instant coffee
- Coffee beans
- Coffee liqueur
- Cognac (brandy)
- Cola (e.g. Coca Cola or Pepsi Cola)
- Cola sugar-free
- Condensed milk
- Coriander / cilantro leaves
- Coriander seeds
- Corn/maize liqueur
- Cranberry juice (sweetened)
- Cranberry juice (unsweetened)
- Cream double/ heavy
- Cream of coconut (e.g. Coco Lopez, Re'al etc.)
- Cream single / half and half
- Cream soda (vanilla soda)
- Crème de banane liqueur
- Crème de cacao liqueur (dark)
- Crème de cacao liqueur (white)
- Crème de cassis liqueur
- Crème de fraise liqueur
- Crème de framboise liqueur
- Crème de menthe (white)
- Crème de menthe green
- Crème de mûre (blackberry)
- Crème de pêche (peach)
- Crème de violette liqueur
- Créole Shrubb liqueur
- Cucumber (fresh)
- Cucumber syrup
- Cumin seeds
- Curry leaf
- Cynar or other carciofo amaro
- Daiquiri bitters
- Dairy-free heavy/double cream alternative
- Date syrup
- Difford's Daiquiri Water
- Dill (fresh)
- Drambuie liqueur
- Dubonnet/French rouge aromatised wine
- Earl Grey syrup
- Egg (white & yolk)
- Egg white (fresh)
- Egg white (pasteurised)
- Egg yolk
- Elderflower cordial
- Elderflower liqueur
- Elderflower syrup
- Evaporated milk (sweetened)
- Falernum liqueur
- Fennel seeds
- Fernet liqueur
- Fig jam
- Fish sauce
- Framboise/raspberry eau-de-vie
- Fruit cup liqueur
- Galliano L'Autentico liqueur
- Garam masala
- Génépi liqueur
- Genever - Jonge genever
- Genever - Oude genever
- Gentian liqueur (e.g. Suze, Salers etc)
- Gin
- Gin - Aged gin
- Gin - Navy strength gin 55.4% (or 57%) alc./vol.
- Gin - Old Tom gin
- Gin - Overproof gin (50+% alc./vol.)
- Gin - Pink gin
- Ginger ale
- Ginger beer
- Ginger beer (alcoholic)
- Ginger beer light
- Ginger bitters
- Ginger cordial
- Ginger juice
- Ginger liqueur
- Ginger root (fresh)
- Ginger sugar syrup
- Gingerbread syrup
- Gomme syrup
- Grand Marnier liqueur
- Granulated (white) sugar
- Grape juice green/white
- Grape juice red
- Grapefruit (fresh fruit)
- Grapefruit - Ruby red grapefruit
- Grapefruit bitters
- Grapefruit juice (pink)
- Grapefruit juice (ruby red)
- Grapefruit juice (white/yellow)
- Grapefruit peel/zest
- Grapefruit soda
- Grapefruit soda - Pink
- Grapes green
- Grapes red
- Grappa - aged
- Grappa - unaged
- Green banana liqueur
- Green bell pepper
- Green bell pepper juice
- Green food colour
- Green ginger wine
- Grenadine/pomegranate syrup
- Ground ginger
- Guava purée syrup
- Hazelnut liqueur
- Hazelnut sugar syrup
- Honey
- Honey - Manuka honey
- Honey - Orange blossom honey
- Honey liqueur (unspiced)
- Honey syrup (1:1)
- Honey syrup (2:1)
- Honey syrup (3:1)
- Honey water (1:1)
- Horseradish sauce
- Hot chocolate powder
- Hot pepper sauce (green)
- Hot pepper sauce (red)
- Ice cream - Chocolate
- Ice cream - Coffee
- Ice cream - Vanilla
- Irish cream liqueur
- Italicus or other Rosolio di Bergamotto / bergamot liqueur
- Jägermeister
- Jalapeño brine from pickled jalapeños
- Jalapeno slice
- Jasmine syrup
- Kaffir lime leaf
- Key lime pie liqueur
- Kina aromatised wine
- Kirsch liqueur
- Kirschwasser (cherry) eau-de-vie
- Kiwi fruit (fresh)
- Kiwi fruit puree
- Kiwi syrup
- Krupnik spiced honey liqueur
- Kummel liqueur
- Lapsang souchong syrup (homemade)
- Lavender bitters
- Lavender sugar syrup
- Lemon (fresh)
- Lemon balm leaves
- Lemon juice
- Lemon peel
- Lemon zest oils
- Lemon-lime soda (Sprite/7-Up)
- Lemonade
- Lemongrass stem
- Licor 43 (or other spiced vanilla liqueur)
- Lillet Blanc (or other aromatized wine)
- Lime (fresh)
- Lime - spent half shell
- Lime cordial (sweetened lime juice)
- Lime juice
- Lime liqueur
- Lime zest (peel)
- Limoncello liqueur
- Liquorice bitters
- Lychee juice drink
- Lychee liqueur
- Lychee syrup
- Lychees
- Madeira - Bual (medium sweet)
- Madeira - Malmesy (sweet)
- Madeira - Rainwater/Verdelho (med dry)
- Malted milk powder
- Mandarine liqueur
- Mango (fresh)
- Mango juice
- Mango purée
- Mango syrup
- Maple syrup
- Maraschino (Marasca) syrup (from cherry jar)
- Maraschino cherries & syrup
- Maraschino cherry (from jar in syrup)
- Maraschino liqueur
- Margarita bitters
- Marmalade (orange)
- Marmalade (Seville orange)
- Marsala Fine DOC (dolce/sweet)
- Marsala wine - secco
- Mascarpone cheese
- Mastiha liqueur
- Matcha green tea powder
- Melon - Cantaloupe
- Melon - Honeydew
- Melon liqueur
- Mezcal
- Milk (fat-free/skimmed)
- Milk (semi-skimmed/2% fat)
- Milk (whole milk/full 3-4% fat)
- Mint (fresh) sprigs
- Mint (menthe) syrup
- Mint leaves
- Mustard - Dijon mustard
- Mustard - English Mustard
- Nettle cordial
- Nutmeg
- Oat milk / oatmeal water
- Olive brine
- Olive oil
- Olives - black
- Olives - green
- Onion - Cocktail onions
- Onion pickling vinegar/brine (from onion jar)
- Oolong tea syrup
- Orange
- Orange - Blood orange juice
- Orange bell pepper
- Orange bell pepper juice
- Orange bitters
- Orange Curaçao liqueur
- Orange flower/blossom water
- Orange juice
- Orange peel
- Oregano leaves
- Orgeat (almond) syrup
- Pacharan liqueur
- Pamplemousse rosé (pink grapefruit) liqueur
- Paprika powder
- Parfait amour liqueur
- Passion fruit (fresh)
- Passion fruit juice
- Passion fruit liqueur
- Passion fruit purée
- Passion fruit syrup
- Passionfruit pulp
- Pastis
- Peach (fresh)
- Peach bitters
- Peach purée
- Peach schnapps liqueur
- Peanut butter
- Pear & cognac liqueur
- Pear (fresh fruit)
- Pear juice
- Pear liqueur - Poire William liqueur
- Pear purée
- Peychaud's / Creole bitters
- Pickled cucumber/gherkin brine/vinegar
- Pimento dram
- Pineapple (ananas) liqueur
- Pineapple (fresh)
- Pineapple juice
- Pineapple syrup
- Pineau des Charentes blanc
- Pink peppercorns
- Pisco
- Plum
- Plum bitters
- Poire William eau-de-vie
- Pomegranate juice
- Pomegranate liqueur
- Pomegranate Molasses
- Pomegranate seeds
- Popcorn
- Port - Ruby
- Port - Tawny
- Port - White
- Prosecco sparkling wine
- Quince jelly/jam (Membrillo)
- Rabarbaro liqueur
- Raisins
- Raspberries (fresh)
- Raspberry jam
- Raspberry puree
- Raspberry syrup
- Red bell pepper
- Red bell pepper juice
- Red bitter soda
- Red onion
- Rhubarb bitters
- Rhubarb liqueur
- Rice wine
- Rocket/Arugula salad leaves
- Root beer
- Rose petal liqueur
- Rose syrup
- Rose water
- Rosemary sprig
- Rum - 10+ year old blended rum
- Rum - 100% pot still rums (40-45% alc./vol.)
- Rum - 3-5yr old Caribbean blended rum
- Rum - 6-10yr old Caribbean blended rum
- Rum - Agricole blanc rhum
- Rum - Coconut rum
- Rum - Dark / black / blackstrap
- Rum - Jamaican aged blended rum
- Rum - Jamaican-style overproof aged pot still rum
- Rum - Light white (charcoal-filtered) 1-3 year old
- Rum - Navy rum
- Rum - Overproof white
- Rum - pineapple rum
- Rum - Spiced
- Rum - White/gold 1-3 year old mellow light
- Rums - Blended & aged med-bodied 3-5yo molasses rum
- Saffron fronds
- Sage leaves
- Sake
- Saline solution
- Salt
- Salted caramel syrup
- Sambuca white
- Scarborough bitters
- Sesame seed syrup (sirope de ajonjoli)
- Sherry - Amontillado
- Sherry - Cream sherry (medium/sweet)
- Sherry - Fino
- Sherry - Manzanilla
- Sherry - Oloroso
- Sherry - Palo cortado
- Sherry - Pedro Ximénez
- Shochu
- Singani Bolivian eax-de-vie
- Sloe gin liqueur
- Snap peas (Mangetout)
- Soda (club soda)
- Soda from siphon
- Soda Water orange-flavoured
- Sour apple liqueur
- Southern USA-style liqueur 40% (e.g. Southern Comfort)
- Soy milk
- Soy sauce
- Sparkling cranberry juice
- Spinach leaves
- Star anise
- Strawberries (fresh)
- Strawberry jam/preserve/conserve
- Strawberry puree
- Strawberry syrup
- Strega liqueur
- Sugar - Caster sugar (white)
- Sugar - Demerara / dark Muscovado / brown sugar
- Sugar - Powdered sugar
- Sugar cube
- Sugar syrup 'rich' 2 sugar to 1 water
- Sugar syrup 'simple' (1:1)
- Sugar syrup - Demerara/Muscovado/brown (1 sugar : 1 water)
- Sugar syrup - Demerara/Muscovado/brown (2 sugar:1 water)
- Sugar syrup - Muscovado (2 sugar to 1 water)
- Sugar-free sweetener
- Swedish Punsch liqueur
- Sweetcorn
- Tajín Clásico chili pepper, lime & sea salt seasoning
- Tangerine / Mandarin / Clementine (fresh fruit)
- Tangerine / Mandarin / Clementine (fresh juice)
- Tea - Assam tea (chilled)
- Tea - Berry tea
- Tea - berry tea (hot)
- Tea - Black tea
- Tea - Black tea (hot)
- Tea - Blackcurrant tea
- Tea - Breakfast tea (hot)
- Tea - Camomile tea (cold)
- Tea - Camomile tea (hot)
- Tea - Cold black breakfast tea
- Tea - Earl Grey (cold)
- Tea - Earl Grey tea (hot)
- Tea - Green jasmine tea (cold)
- Tea - Green tea (cold)
- Tea - Hibiscus tea (cold)
- Tea - Jasmine tea (hot)
- Tea - Lady Grey tea
- Tea - Lapsang Souchong tea (cold)
- Tea - Lapsang Souchong tea (hot)
- Tea - Oolong tea
- Tea - Rooibos tea
- Tea - Rooibos tea (hot)
- Tea - White tea (cold)
- Tea bag (Earl grey)
- Tequila - Añejo tequila
- Tequila blanco
- Tequila reposado
- Thyme (fresh)
- Tomato juice (not clarified)
- Tonic water
- Tonic water - Elderflower tonic water
- Tonic water - Light
- Tonic water - Mediterranean style
- Triple sec (e.g. Cointreau)
- Turmeric powder
- Umeshu plum sake / Japanese plum wine
- Vanilla bitters
- Vanilla extract
- Vanilla pod
- Vanilla sugar syrup
- Verjuice
- Vermouth - Absinthe vermouth
- Vermouth - Bianco
- Vermouth - Dry
- Vermouth - Dry full-bodied (e.g. Ambrato)
- Vermouth - Rosato/rosé vermouth
- Vermouth - Rosso/rouge (sweet) vermouth
- Vermouth - sweet aged (Antica Formula)
- Vermouth - Vermouth di Torino
- Vinegar - apple cider vinegar
- Vinegar - Balsamic
- Vinegar - Black Mission fig balsamic Vinegar
- Vinegar - Malt vinegar
- Vinegar - Red wine vinegar
- Vinegar - sherry
- Vinegar - white wine (Chardonnay)
- Violet sugar syrup
- Vodka
- Vodka - Bison grass
- Vodka - Blackcurrant flavoured
- Vodka - Citrus flavoured
- Vodka - Grapefruit flavoured
- Vodka - Orange flavoured vodka
- Vodka - Pear flavoured vodka
- Vodka - Pepper flavoured
- Vodka - Raspberry flavoured vodka
- Vodka - Vanilla flavoured
- Walnut liqueur
- Wasabi paste
- Water (boiling)
- Water (cold)
- Water (hot)
- Water - Carbonated/Sparkling/Selzer mineral water
- Water - Still/Sin gas
- Watermelon (fresh)
- Watermelon liqueur
- Whisk(e)y - Blended/vatted Scotch malt whisky
- Whisk(e)y - Bourbon whiskey
- Whisk(e)y - Canadian blended whisky
- Whisk(e)y - Canadian rye whisky
- Whisk(e)y - English whisky
- Whisk(e)y - Highland single malt Scotch whisky
- Whisk(e)y - Honey flavoured whiskey
- Whisk(e)y - Irish blended whiskey
- Whisk(e)y - Island single malt Scotch whisky
- Whisk(e)y - Japanese blended whisky
- Whisk(e)y - Japanese single malt whisky
- Whisk(e)y - Mexican corn whisky
- Whisk(e)y - Peated whisk(e)y
- Whisk(e)y - Rye whiskey (100 proof / 50% alc./vol.)
- Whisk(e)y - Scotch whisky (blended)
- Whisk(e)y - Single malt Irish whiskey
- Whisk(e)y - Single pot still Irish whiskey
- Whisk(e)y - Speyside single malt Scotch whisky
- Whisk(e)y - Tennessee whiskey
- White peach & jasmine soda
- Wine dessert - Icewine
- Wine dessert - Sauternes
- Wine red - Barolo
- Wine red - Cabernet Sauvignon wine
- Wine Red - Chianti
- Wine red - Claret
- Wine red - Malbec
- Wine Red - Merlot
- Wine Red - Pinot Noir
- Wine Red - Rioja (Crianza)
- Wine Red - Shiraz
- Wine rosé
- Wine rosé - Côtes de Provence
- Wine Rosé - White Zinfandel
- Wine White - Chardonnay (Chablis)
- Wine white - Gewurztraminer
- Wine white - Grüner Veltliner
- Wine White - Pinot Grigio
- Wine white - Riesling
- Wine White - Sauvignon Blanc
- Wine white - Soave
- Wine white - Voignier
- Worcestershire sauce
- Xocolatl mole bitters
- Yellow bell pepper
- Yellow bell pepper juice
- Yoghurt (Greek natural)
- Yuzu juice
- Yuzu syrup
- Yuzushu liqueur