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Maybe you’ve coveted a Le Creuset Dutch oven for your entire life and you can’t wait to add it to your wedding registry. I love that for you. But maybe you don’t actually need many more pots and pans or plates or bowls—perhaps, over a year-plus of pandemic cooking, you got yourself pretty well equipped. Still, there’s a reason wedding registries exist: to tell your guests what you really do want (a donation to a food charity you care about, perhaps, or a subscription to a fun-pasta-shape-of-the-month club) so they don’t spend a bunch of money on something you don’t want (an ornate silver something that, sorry, 11 years after my wedding, I still haven’t identified). If your living space is crammed, the best wedding gifts are those you can use up.
The dream? A well-stocked bar cart, packed with everything you need to make your favorite cocktails.
Many of the build-your-own registry sites, like Zola or The Knot, will let you add whatever you want to a wish list. Here’s what I’d recommend.
A starter set
If you like cocktails but you don’t have much of a liquor stash on hand to make drinks at home, a registry is the perfect way to get stocked up with all of the basics: gin, vodka, tequila, mezcal, bourbon, rye, white rum, vermouth, and the essential bitters. If you’re going to add just two liqueurs, go with bittersweet Campari (for Negronis, Boulevardiers, and more) and orange liqueur (especially if you like margaritas.)
For the couple getting into classic cocktails
To dive into old-school drinks, you’ll need a few more special bottles: herbal Chartreuse, aromatic Maraschino, honeyed Benedictine, and licorice-scented absinthe.
For fans of bitter drinks
If you’re trying to dial in your signature spritz or hoping the Paper Plane will make a comeback, these are the bottles you need. They’re also handy if you’re planning to offer future dinner party guests a digestif.
