Know your bottles
Short primers on every bottle the classic recipes call for: the legal definitions where there are some, the styles you will meet in recipes, and which to buy for which drink.
GinWhat makes gin gin, the difference between London dry, Old Tom and Plymouth styles, and which bottle suits which drink.WhiskeyHow bourbon, rye, Scotch and Irish whiskey differ by law and in the glass, and which to use in an Old Fashioned, Manhattan or sour.RumRum is made from sugarcane in dozens of countries. Here is how to read the styles by tradition, and which one each classic needs.Tequila and mezcalTequila is one kind of mezcal. What the labels mean, why 100% agave matters in a Margarita, and where the smoke in mezcal comes from.BrandyBrandy is distilled wine or fruit. The styles behind the Sidecar, Jack Rose and Pisco Sour, and what VS and VSOP mean.VodkaWhy vodka mixes the way it does, what actually differs between bottles, and the drinks it took over in the late 20th century.Vermouth, aperitivo and wineThe wines of the bar. Sweet versus dry vermouth, bitter red aperitivi, quinquinas, sherry and sparkling wine, and how to keep them fresh.Liqueurs and bittersOrange liqueurs, maraschino, the Chartreuses, absinthe and cocktail bitters. What each one does in a drink, and the legends on their labels.