Working behind a bar allows for a certain amount of chemistry leeway. That is, the freedom to mix and match this with that to create, um, this or that. Though there’s a certain level of knowledge required for high-difficulty cocktails, for the most part, bartending, or mixing spirits, or whatever you wanna call it, is simple math: a + b = c. The ‘c’ can sometimes be a success and sometimes a failure. The ‘c’ always depends upon the ‘a’ and the ‘b’. Okay, I realize I’m starting to sound like I’m talking in code. Let me rethink this. Alright, everyone knows a basic highball from a hole in the wall, but what about the unusual, often ignored mixes and mixers?

When you’re out on the town, chances are that there’s a giant selection of alcohols to choose from. Not knowing what half of them are, or what to mix with them for that matter, makes choosing a boring highball that much easier. So, if you’re looking to live a little with the bottle, here’s a place where you can find some answers. Every week I will do my best to inform you, dear reader, of some lush-worthy, luxurious liquor, what it’s all about, and more importantly, what to mix with it. That’s right, your own personal bartender at your every beck and call. I call this project, The ABC’s of Alcohol. Think of it like taking an online class about booze. I use no recipe books or cheats. I’m all about trial and error, especially when it comes to drinking, so this will likely be more fun for me than it is for you.

I drew letters to see who would start, and what do you know, I picked “a”.