I'm hoping most people will already have vodka/bourbon/gin/tequila etc. in their cardboard box in the dining room closet, I mean liquor cupboard. That said, for a rockin' good time, get a bottle of Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur, a bottle of St. Germaine, and a bottle of sweet vermouth. Cheers!
Wow, that's a tough one. Only three? The simplest options are a quality vodka, such as elit by Stolichnaya; a solid bourbon, like Maker's Mark, and Hendrick's gin, plus assorted mixers such as tonic water, cranberry juice, orange juice, seltzer, ginger ale, cola, etc. That being said, what I like to do in addition to the basics is to feature some kind of not-too-sweet punch such as Amanda's 19th Century Roman Punch (http://www.food52.com/recipes/7635_nineteenth_century_roman_punch) which, like sharing a wine at dinner, allows the guests to share in and experience the same drink.
My first reaction is: what kind of piss-poor liquor cupboard only has three types of alcohol in it to begin with?! Holidays are already a total bummer....but I suppose that's not really the answer you were looking for. My second reaction is: a high quality bourbon for sipping, a medium-quality of bourbon for mixing, and a run-of-the-mill bourbon to use for cooking.....but I suppose that's also not really the answer you were looking for. My final reaction is: a dark (bourbon, scotch, whiskey, rum) a light (vodka, gin, light rum) and a cordial/port/sipping something or other to be used as an post over-indulging restorative!
Whiskey, gin, and brandy. This keeps the whiskey lovers happy, the gluten-free people less paranoid, and appeals to a wide range of ages and palates (especially if the brandy's applejack). It's also easy to use any of these straight up or in either sweet or savory cocktails; they all have a lot of versatility. If you also stock a few homemade mixers or garnishes (ginger syrup, cherry bitters, preserved cherries, rosemary syrup, flavored vinegar), your guests will feel like royalty.
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