Skyy 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.

Amaretto Almond Liqueur

Amaretto is a liqueur, a sweet Italian liqueur that originated in Saronno. There are different brands and each have their slight variations and ingredients vary from apricot kernel, bitter almonds, peach stones or almonds, all these are natural sources of the benzaldehyde that brings the almond flavour to the liqueur. Amaretto usually contains a 21% to 48% Alcohol by Volume.

Amaretto liqueur can be drunk straight or used as an ingredient in mixed drinks, or with coffee.

The name Amaretto originated from the Italian word amaro, meaning bitter. Amaretto's bitterness is derived from the drupe kernel and although the bitterness of Amaretto tends to be mild, sweeteners and at time sweet almonds are added to enhance the flavour of the final product.

Triple Sec

Triple-Sec is an Orange flavoured liqueur from France. It is made by macerating sun dried orange peel in alcohol for a day or more before a three step distillation. Triple Sec has a 15% to 40% ABV.

The Triple Sec name refers to the process of distillation. Sec in French means dry or distilled and triple refers to the triple distillation process.

It\'s been a popular liqueur for more than 150 years, the Dutch East India Company created orange liqueurs by steeping orange peels in alcohol from the island of Curaçao and called it Curaçao liquor, and unlike Triple Sec, the Dutch added spices and herbs to the orange and Curaçao comes in a variety of colours such as clear, orange or blue. Blue Curaçao being the most used of them, in cocktails. Triple Sec is made from neutral spirits and the Orange peel used is harvested from oranges that have the skin still green, so that the essential oils are still in the skin and has not been absorbed into the flesh. This gives Triple Sec the intense flavour.

Bacardi 151 Rum

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

Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey

Tennessee Whiskey is a straight whiskey produced in the US state of Tennessee. Whiskey produced in Tennessee is technically and legally a Bourbon and is recognised as Bourbon internationally, but Tennessee manufacturers prefer to keep their produce separate from Bourbon. To be a legal Bourbon, a whiskey has to meet the following criteria

Produced in the United States and Territories (Puerto Rico) and the District of Columbia
Made from a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn
Aged in new, charred oak containers
Distilled to no more than 160 (U.S.) proof (80% alcohol by volume)
Entered into the container for aging at no more than 125 proof (62.5% alcohol by volume)
Bottled (like other whiskeys) at 80 proof or more (40% alcohol by volume)

Southern Comfort Peach Liqueur

Southern Comfort is now branded as a Whiskey Liqueur and is associated with bourbon , but originally the brand produced peach liqueurand was one of the few peach liqueurs in the market. Produced using neutral spirit and over 100 ingredients, the final liqueur matured for eight months before bottling.

Sloe Gin

Sloe Gin is not a Gin, it's a British liqueur made with gin and sloes. Sloes are Plum like fruits which are traditionally picked after the first frost of winter in late October, pricked traditionally with a thorn from the blackthorn bush on which sloes grow, then put in a jar with sugar and gin and steeped for at least three months while turning the jar every day initially, then every week until ready.

The liqueur is then decanted carefully to eliminate all sediments and a clear red liqueur is left. Sloe Gin is 15% to 30% ABV. EU established standard requires a minimum of 25% ABV for the liqueur to be recognised as a Sloe Gin.

Sloe Gin is the only non-Gin product that is still legally allowed to be called a Gin, despite the fact that it is a Gin based liqueur and is often even made with neutral grain spirits in place of Gin.

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.

Lime Juice

Lime Juice being rich in Vitamin C is an excellent remedy for sore throat and aids in digestion and controls blood sugar, and also promoted weight loss. It is used for various culinary and non-culinary purposes all over the world. Lime juice is known to reduce or even reverse the effects of excessive alcohol consumption and intoxication.
The difference between Lime Juice and Lemon Juice is that although the sweet and sour Lemon and the bitter and sour Lime are two different fruits, they have similar properties and tastes similar too, the Lime, unlike the sweet and large Lemon, is used raw and is usually plucked green and has more bitterness and sourness in it's taste, and is grown better in tropical and sub-tropical climates.
In drink mixing, fresh lemon juice brings a tangy zing to so many classic drinks and in fact, it's the most used ingredient in drink mixing other than the liquors of course.

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.