Sponsored by High Cotton Wine & Spirits Warehouse

The wine may be gone but the liquor cabinet is full… it’s time to get creative with all of those half-finished bottles.

You may be missing the bars, but having to work with what you have can actually help you to explore your alcoholic palate. Aaron Herrington, the owner of High Cotton Wine & Spirits Warehouse and expert cocktail maker, is here to assure people that all is not lost just because someone else isn’t making the drinks.

“Cocktails at home give people the freedom to craft the drink to their liking. People aren’t able to go out to bars or restaurants. So they’re doing it all at home, and they’re trying new products, and they’re being more creative,” Herrington said. “You can ask a bartender to prepare a drink to your liking, but more often than not most people order a set recipe off a menu.”

The cheapest home cocktail, according to Herrington, has a fancy name and a simple recipe. The Cape Cod, a vodka and cranberry juice concoction, is easy to make and enjoy. It will only take a few minutes to make and less to enjoy.

The most popular cocktail that you can make would be the Old Fashioned. Its recipe can be a little daunting, but there’s a reason why it’s the best.

“The Old Fashioned remains champion for the fifth year in a row as the most popular cocktail in the world,” Herrington said. “This American classic is made by muddling a sugar cube with Angostura bitters, then adding bourbon or rye, a few dashes of water, and finished with a citrus rind.”

One of Herrington’s favorite cocktails to make is the Vieux Carre.

“I have made many a Vieux Carre during quarantine and I am still on the search for the perfect Vieux Carre. While the ingredients remain the same, the brands of spirits you choose to use create a vastly different drink. Currently, my go-to Vieux Carre is equal parts Michter’s Straight Rye, Paul Beau VS Cognac, Dolin Sweet Vermouth (1oz), Benedictine (1/2oz), one dash Angostura bitters, one dash Peychaud’s bitters. Stir all ingredients with ice and strain into an ice-filled glass,” said Herrington.

It’s time to get fun with your drinking! High Cotton is currently allowing for curbside pickup and preordering, and it’s always important to have all of the right tools if you’re making the perfect cocktail at home.

If you’re stumped on recipes, never fear. The internet is a bountiful resource to explore the options a trip to the liquor store can bring. The beauty of the at-home cocktail is the cocktail, after all, is the freedom that it brings.

“A cocktail can be as simple or as complex as the drink you want to make. Many individuals will start off with simpler cocktails,” Herrington said. “The fewer the ingredients, in theory, the fewer steps needed to craft said cocktail. Having proper bar equipment can always make things easier as well.”

High Cotton Wine and Spirits Warehouse can offer more ideas for creative cocktails. 2216 Jackson Ave W, Oxford, MS 38655. 662-236-9463  https://www.highcottonwarehouse.com/