Vodka

Vodka is an European clear distilled alcoholic drink that has been one of the most popular drinks across the world .

You'll find it to be the most popular spirit in drink making because of it's neutral taste and absence of flavour and colour.

Vodka often replaces Gin in many traditional cocktails

Vodka is known to be good for the heart, and if consumed in moderation, can prove to be good for cardiovascular health

Note that these days there are flavoured Vodka available in the market too, and some cocktails do make use of them.

Bacardi

Bacardi 151 is a discontinued brand of highly alcoholic Rum made by Bacardi Limited of Bermuda. It is has alcohol concentration level of 151 US Proof or has 75.5% alcohol by volume. Way higher than a regular 35% - 40% ABV of a standard Rum. Bacardi discontinued the 151 in 2016.

Because of it's high alcohol concentration a 151 Proof Rum is highly inflammable and is thus used in making stunning flaming shots. Bacardi probably discontinued the Bacardi 151 after a few lawsuits, but there are other brands of 151 Proof or overproof Rum available in the market

Bacardi Limon Rum is a Citrus Rum, Bacardi introduced it in 1995 and Bacardi Limon Original Citrus Rum is their first ever flavoured Rum. Bacardi Limon is a blend of Bacardi White Rum infused with a delectable combination of natural lemon, lime and grapefruit, the name Limon is the French for Lemon.

People often confuse it with a flavoured Vodka, but it's pure Rum.

Bacardi O is an orange flavoured Rum, created by infusing Bacardi White Rum with the essence of Mandarin Oranges from Sicily, Valencia Oranges from Florida and Dancy Tangerines from Brazil, Florida and Israel.

Bacardi O is 35% ABV.

Breezer is an alcoholic fruit flavoured beverage made by Bacardi. Breezer comes in a variety of fruit flavours and are available in lemon, peach, apple, pineapple, lime, orange, ruby grapefruit, blackberry, watermelon, cranberry, coconut, raspberry, blueberry, pomegranate, mango and strawberry flavours. Breezer is popular in India, Europe, Israel, Australia and Canada and is available in China too. A Breezer in reality is not a real fruit leverage, it is a wine cooler, which is an alcoholic beverage made from wine and fruit juice, often carbonated beverage and sugar is added to it.

Grenadine

Grenadine is a common non-alcoholic pomegranate syrup with a characteristic deep red colour. It is a very popular cocktail ingredient, used for its pomegranate flavour and more for its ability to add a reddish to pink tint to a cocktail.

The name Grenadine originates from the French for pomegranate, which is grenade.

Grenadine is not subjected to regulations like alcoholic beverages are, and there are no region specific formulae any more, and thus manufacturers often replace pomegranate with blackcurrant juice and other fruit juices while retaining the same flavour profile.

Many producers now use artificial ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, water, citric acid, sodium citrate, sodium benzoate and food grade red colour along with natural and artificial flavours.

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

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.