Substitutions

Think you've stocked your bar fairly well? If you want to find the holes, the guaranteed method is to invite some friends over after bragging about your newly stocked bar. Here are a few decent substitutions:

• Angostura Bitters= Mix a pinch of cinnamon, ground cloves, and nutmeg with finely diced lemon and/or orange peel and prunes, in 2 tbls of vodka or rum.
• Anise liqueurs= Pastis, Ouzo, Pernod, Arak.
• Black Currant liqueurs= Cassis, Chambord.
• Bourbon= Whiskey.
• Brandy= Cognac or whiskey.
• Club soda= Mineral water or seltzer.
• Cream or half-and-half= 1/2 evaporated milk plus 1/2 milk.
• Cream, whipped= Whip ice cold evaporated milk plus a bit of sugar.
• Lemon= Lime.
• Madeira= Sherry, port, Marsala, sweet vermouth.
• Mint liqueur= Creme de Menthe.
• Orange liqueur= Curacao, Grand Marnier, Cointreau, Triple Sec.
• Passionfruit juice= Pomegranate juice, grenadine with splash of lemon juice.
• Sugar= Superfine sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, honey, molasses, agave nectar.
• Tomato juice= Ripe tomatoes (peeled, seeded, blended with salt and lemon juice to taste).

Keep in mind that any substitution will alter the intended flavor of the drink. Good luck!