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.
If you would like to use a specific brand or indeed ingredient not on this list then please email Simon@DiffordsGuide.com
- 'Simple' sugar syrup (1:1)
- Absinthe verte
- Advocaat liqueur
- Agave syrup
- Albumin / powdered egg white
- Amaretto liqueur
- Amaro - Averna
- Amaro - Montenegro
- Amaro - Ramazzotti
- Americano Bianco
- Angostura or other aromatic bitters
- Aperol/red aperitivo
- Apple (fresh)
- Apple juice
- Apple Schnapps liqueur
- Apricot (brandy) liqueur
- Apricot jam (preserve)
- Aquafaba (chickpea water)
- Armagnac brandy
- Banana (fresh)
- Basil leaves
- Beer - Belgium dubbel
- Beer - IPA
- Beer - Lager
- Beer - Pale ale
- Beer - Pilsner lager
- Beer - Stout
- Bénédictine D.O.M. liqueur
- Bitter lemon tonic
- Black pepper
- Black raspberry liqueur (e.g. Chambord)
- Blackberries (fresh)
- Blue curaçao liqueur
- Blueberries (fresh)
- Butter
- Cachaça
- Calvados & straight applejacks
- Campari or other red bitter liqueur
- Cardamom pods (green)
- Cava sparkling wine
- Celery salt
- Celery stick (fresh)
- Champagne Brut
- Champagne Rose
- Chartreuse Green
- Chartreuse Yellow
- Cherries (destoned)
- Cherry brandy liqueur
- Cherry tomato (fresh)
- Chili liqueur
- Chili oil
- Chili pepper (red)
- Chocolate bitters
- Cider - dry apple cider
- Cider - med dry apple cider
- Cinnamon powder
- Cinnamon stick
- Cinnamon syrup
- Clamato juice
- Clove
- Cocoa powder
- Coconut liqueurs (<35% alc./vol.)
- Coconut rum (35-40% alc./vol.)
- Coconut syrup
- Coconut water
- Coffee - espresso coffee
- Coffee - French press/cafetière
- Coffee - hot filter coffee
- Coffee - instant coffee
- Coffee beans
- Coffee liqueur
- Cognac
- Cola (e.g. Coca Cola & Pepsi Cola)
- Condensed milk
- Coriander / cilantro leaves
- Cranberry juice (red)
- 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
- Cucumber (fresh)
- Cynar or other carciofo amaro
- Daiquiri bitters
- Dairy-free heavy/double cream alternative
- Demerara / dark Muscovado / brown sugar
- Demerara / dark Muscovado sugar syrup (1 sugar : 1 water)
- Demerara / dark Muscovado sugar syrup (2 sugar to 1 water)
- Dill (fresh)
- Dubonnet/French rouge aromatised wine
- 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
- Figs
- Galliano L'Autentico liqueur
- Garam masala
- Genever - Oude genever
- Gentian liqueur (e.g. Suze, Salers etc)
- Gin
- Gin - Old Tom gin
- Ginger ale
- Ginger beer
- Ginger cordial
- Ginger liqueur
- Ginger root (fresh)
- Ginger sugar syrup
- Grand Marnier liqueur
- Grapefruit (fresh fruit)
- Grapefruit juice (pink)
- Grapefruit juice (ruby red)
- Grapefruit juice (white/yellow)
- Grapefruit peel/zest
- Grapefruit soda (pink grapefruit soda)
- Grapes green
- Grapes red
- Green bell pepper
- Green bell pepper juice
- Grenadine/pomegranate syrup
- Hazelnut liqueur
- Hazelnut sugar syrup
- Honey
- Honey syrup (3:1)
- Horseradish sauce
- Hot pepper sauce (green)
- Hot pepper sauce (red)
- Ice-cream - Chocolate
- Ice-cream - Coffee
- Ice-cream - Vanilla
- Irish cream liqueur
- Jägermeister
- Jalapeno slice
- Kiwi fruit (fresh)
- Kiwi fruit puree
- Kiwi syrup
- Lavender sugar syrup
- Lemon (fresh)
- Lemon juice
- Lemon peel
- Lemon-lime soda (Sprite/7-Up)
- Lemonade
- 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 peel
- Limoncello liqueur
- Madeira - Rainwater/Verdelho (med dry)
- Mandarine liqueur
- Mango (fresh)
- Mango juice
- Mango purée
- Maple syrup
- Maraschino cherries
- Maraschino cherries & syrup
- Maraschino liqueur
- Maraschino syrup (from cherry jar)
- Margarita bitters
- Marmalade (orange)
- Marsala wine
- Matcha green tea powder
- Melon - Cantaloupe
- Melon - Honeydew
- Melon liqueur
- Mezcal
- Milk (semi-skimmed/2% fat)
- Milk (whole milk/full 3-4% fat)
- Mint (fresh) sprigs
- Mint (menthe) syrup
- Mint leaves
- Nutmeg
- Olive brine
- Olive oil
- Olives - black
- Olives - green
- Onion - Cocktail onions
- Orange
- Orange - Blood orange juice
- Orange bitters
- Orange Curaçao liqueur
- Orange flower/blossom water
- Orange juice
- Orange peel
- Orgeat (almond) syrup
- Pamplemousse rosé (pink grapefruit) liqueur
- Passion fruit (fresh)
- Passion fruit juice
- Passion fruit liqueur
- Passion fruit puree
- Passion fruit syrup
- Peach 'schnapps' liqueur
- Peach (fresh)
- Peach purée
- Pear (fresh fruit)
- Pear juice
- Pear purée
- Peychaud's / Creole bitters
- Pickled cucumber/gherkin brine/vinegar
- Pineapple (fresh)
- Pineapple juice
- Pisco
- Plum
- Pomegranate juice
- Port - Ruby
- Port - Tawny
- Port - White
- Prosecco sparkling wine
- Raspberries (fresh)
- Raspberry jam
- Raspberry puree
- Raspberry syrup
- Red bell pepper
- Red bell pepper juice
- Rocket/Arugula salad leaves
- Rose water
- Rosemary sprig
- 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 - Dark / black / blackstrap
- Rum - Jamaican aged blended rum
- Rum - Navy rum
- Rum - Overproof pot still rum
- Rum - Overproof white
- Rum - Spiced
- Rum - White (charcoal-filtered) 1-3 year old light
- Rum - White/gold 1-3 year old mellow light
- Sage leaves
- Sake
- Saline solution
- Salt
- Sambuca white
- Sea buckthorn juice
- Sherry - Amontillado
- Sherry - Cream sherry (medium/sweet)
- Sherry - Fino
- Sherry - Manzanilla
- Sherry - Oloroso
- Sherry - Palo cortado
- Sherry - Pedro Ximénez
- Sloe Gin liqueur
- Soda (club soda)
- Soda from siphon
- Sour apple liqueur
- Southern USA-style liqueur (e.g. Southern Comfort)
- Soy sauce
- Star anise
- Strawberries (fresh)
- Strawberry jam/preserve/conserve
- Strawberry puree
- Strawberry syrup
- Sugar - Caster sugar (white)
- Sugar - Powdered sugar
- Sugar cube
- Sugar syrup (rich) 2 sugar to 1 water
- Sugar syrup - Muscovado (2 sugar to 1 water)
- Sugar-free sweetener
- Sweetcorn
- Tangerine / Mandarin / Clementine (fresh fruit)
- Tarragon
- Tea - Berry tea
- Tea - Black tea
- Tea - Camomile tea
- Tea - Earl Grey
- Tea - Jasmine tea
- Tea - Lapsang Souchong tea
- Tea - Rooibos tea
- Tequila anejo
- Tequila blanco
- Tequila reposado
- Thyme sprig
- Tomato juice (not clarified)
- Tonic water
- Triple sec (e.g. Cointreau)
- Vanilla extract
- Vanilla pod
- Vanilla sugar syrup
- Vermouth - Bianco
- Vermouth - Dry
- Vermouth - Rosso (sweet) vermouth
- Vinegar - Balsamic
- Vinegar - cider vinegar
- Vinegar - white wine (Chardonnay)
- Vodka
- Vodka - Bison grass
- Vodka - Citrus flavoured
- Vodka - Orange flavoured vodka
- Vodka - Vanilla flavoured
- Water (boiling)
- Water (cold)
- Water (hot)
- Water - Carbonated/Sparkling/Selzer mineral water
- Water - Still/Sin gas
- Watermelon (fresh)
- Whiskey - Bourbon whiskey
- Whiskey - Irish blended whiskey
- Whiskey - Rye whiskey 100 proof / 50% alc./vol.
- Whiskey - Tennessee whiskey
- Whisky - Canadian blended whisky
- Whisky - Islay single malt Scotch whisky
- Whisky - Scotch whisky (blended)
- Whisky - Speyside single malt Scotch whisky
- Wine Red - Chianti
- Wine Red - Claret
- Wine red - Malbec
- Wine Red - Merlot
- Wine Red - Pinot Noir
- Wine Red - Shiraz
- Wine White - Chardonnay (Chablis)
- Wine white - Grüner Veltliner
- Wine White - Pinot Grigio
- Wine white - Riesling
- Wine White - Sauvignon Blanc
- Wine white - Soave
- Wine White - Voignier
- Worcestershire sauce
- Yellow bell pepper
- Yellow bell pepper juice
- Yoghurt (Greek natural)
