Dark Rum

Dark Rums have molasses as their main ingredient, the dark liquor has a full bodied flavour of spices and caramel and is a favourite drink with Cola and is part of so many cocktails.

The term Dark Rum is not a legal definition but it generally refers to any rum that is dark brown in appearance due to ageing or from additional molasses or caramel.

The colour of Dark Rum varies from Gold to Black, depending on the years of ageing in the vat.

White Rum

In the making of Rum, the produce of the fermentation and distillation process of molasses is a transparent spirit, which is then aged in vats or barrels and the end result of the ageing is Rum.

White Rum differs from Dark Rum in this process of ageing, while to produce a Dark Rum, the distillate is aged in a large charred oak barrel, White Rum is aged in big stainless still barrels.

There are no legal categorisatoin of Rums and it's just a matter of practice that dark rum is used in cooking or is drunk straight or with a Cola , white rums are mostly used in cocktails.

White Creme De Cacao

Creme de Cacao is a chocolate liqueur that has probably been produced and sold in France since as early as 1666. In America a Chocolate wine was popular in the 18th Century, it's ingredients included sherry, port, chocolate and sugar.

A modern recipe for chocolate liqueur at home lists the ingredients as chocolate extract, vanilla extract and simple syrup and in purest form, chocolate liqueur is clear and colours may be added.

Creme de Cacao can be consumed straight and as an apertif, in cocktails and in desserts, in dessert sauces, cakes and truffles.

Coconut Cream

Coconut Cream, Creme de Coconut or Cream of Coconut is a condensed coconut milk, with a thick syrup consistency. It is used to sweeten tropical drinks like a classic pina colada.
Note: For ease of use and flexibility, buy Coconut Milk Powder and mix with desired amount of water and beat it to get either a cream or milk.

Pineapple Juice

Rich in antioxidants, this juice pressed from the pulp of the Pineapple is a good protection against cell degeneration, It contains bromelain, a group of enzymes known to reduce inflammation, improve digestion and boost immunity. In drink mixing, there is nothing like the tropical flavour of pineapple juice to add that tropical freshness and nuance to a cocktail.

In drink mixing pineapple having a fruity tropical aroma pineapple juice is a good companion for tropical fruits such as mango, banana, passion fruit, and also pairs well with oranges and grapefruit juice.

Pineapple juice is the juice pressed out of the pulp of the pineapple fruit, several varieties of pineapple are used to manufacture commercial pineapple juice. High on Vitamin C and enzymes that have been shown to activate healthy immune response, it’s a good juice to start a day. The enzyme bromelain in pineapple juice, triggers analgesic response in the body to fight pain and reduce swelling. In cocktails, Pineapple juice goes best with Vodka and is often a regular juice in many Vodka cocktails.

Cranberry Juice

Cranberry Juice is rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants, the compounds that fight free radicals and kills harmful bacteria. Cranberry juice is a home remedy for Urinary Tract Infection.
Pure Cranberry Juice is sour and bitter with very low sugar in it, and thus fortified Cranberry Juice is used for consumption and sugar is added to it for taste. The resulting juice tart and sweet and with a pH of 2.6 it is quite acidic and is an excellent substitute for Red Wine.

Orange Juice

Orange Juice is an excellent source of Vitamin C, one cup contains twice the daily recommended value. Vitamin C supports the immune system and helps fighting the common cold. The folate in Orange juice supports healthy fetal development. It is low calory and thus is already a qualified alternative to cola fizz in your cocktail if you want to keep your drinks acceptably healthy.

Orange Juice being citrus and naturally sweet and sour, it literally goes with almost any liquor, and of course Vodka being neutral, the best known pairing is with Vodka. But goes well with Dark Rum too, and you get the Planter's Punch, mix it with Champagne and you have made a mimosa, or with tequila to make a tequila sunrise.

Orange Bitters 2es

Orange Bitters are traditionally the zest of Seville Oranges mixed with other spices such as cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, caraway seeds, coriander seeds, anise and burnt sugar in an alcohol base.
Note that Orange Bitters are not to be confused with Angostura Aromatic Bitters, although the House of Angostura produces an Orange Bitters brand too.

Crushed Ice

Ice is so obvious in most drinks, be it a straight drink or a mixed drink, that we often forget it's importance or even reason behind using a crystal clear good quality ice in a glass of whisky, or crushed ice in a tall glass to enjoy a cocktail.

Ice tempers a hard liquor, and as is in the case of whisky for example, if you prefer the flavours of whisky reach your nose without the hard note of spirit lingering around, or want to avoid the mild sting of a neat whisky, a cube of ice mellows the strength down a little and as it melts slowly, the aroma and flavour is released from the whisky slowly and makes whisky progressively weak, lingering and palatable.

Ice in Vodka helps release the little flavour a Vodka has, slowly, instead of letting the Vodka hit your nose all at once,

In mixed drinks, ice plays an important role in creating the perfect temperature a certain drink requires and bartenders use ice in several different ways, crushed ice for long drinks that will allow the cocktail to slowly water down like a Mint Julep, Moscow Mule, Rum Swizzle, Sherry Cobbler and other Tiki drinks, a large block or cubes of ice for drinks that are spirit heavy, such as the Old Fashioned, Negroni, and Manhattan