How to Build a Home Bar, If You Really Like Chocolate

The Spirit, always helpful, brings you an article on how to update your home bar. Sadly, it's full of tips like this:

Vodka: If you have anything in a plastic bottle, discard it immediately. If you are old enough to have a home bar, you are old enough to buy vodka that doesn’t remind you of making vodka-soaked gummy bears in college.
Three to try:
Ketel One VodkaRussian Standard VodkaVan Gogh Rich Dark Chocolate Vodka (It’s always nice to have a flavored vodka in-house in case you get someone who has more of a sweet tooth when it comes to boozing).

First, vodka is boring, so you shouldn't spend money on anything more expensive than Stoli or Skyy. But it's good to have a bottle or two laying around. It occasionally comes in handy, and because it's so boring, it's good for infusion.  Second, if you want to get a flavored bottle of vodka, don't do chocolate! There are much better ways to add chocolate to your drinks. Personally, I'd recommend either lemon or vanilla for a flavored vodka.

But more generally, there are far too many sweet ingredients on their list. In addition to the chocolate vodka, there's a caramel apple liqueur and three (3!) types of honey liqueur. Honey liqueur should be the last liqueur you buy; that's what honey's for! I also think the advice to stock the five main kinds of spirit (vodka, rum, tequila, gin, and whiskey) dangerous if you don't have an unlimited budget. Take your favorite drink, and get what you need to make that. So if you really like Manhattans, get some rye and sweet vermouth. Then, later, when you want a margarita, you can add tequila and Cointreau. If you want to upgrade your bar, try new spirits. I love Rittenhouse Rye for my Manhattans, but every once in a while, I'll pick up a different rye to see how it works. This way, you can have a great bar without breaking the budget.