The Mixologist’s Chemistry
Q: What specific type of orange liqueur is required for a classic "Cadillac" Margarita?
A: Grand Marnier (floated on top)
Q: Which country is the ancestral home of the Pilsner style of lager?
A: Czech Republic (specifically the city of Plzeň)
Q: Why do bartenders "muddle" ingredients like mint or fruit?
A: To release essential oils and juices.
Q: What was the name given to illegal, secret bars during the Prohibition era?
A: Speakeasies.
Q: To be called "Scotch," the whisky must be aged in oak casks in Scotland for at least how many years?
A: 3 years
Q: In a standard 750ml bottle of spirits, approximately how many standard 1.5oz shots are there?
A: 16.9 (17)
Q: What is the name of the German beer purity law, established in 1516, that restricted ingredients to water, barley, and hops?
A: Reinheitsgebot.
Q: In bar slang, if a bartender yells "86," what does it mean?
A: The item is out of stock / The person is banned.
Q: In which decade did the "Tiki" bar culture originate in the United States?
A: The 1930s (Don the Beachcomber opened in 1934).
Q: What is the primary botanical used to flavor Gin?
A: Juniper berries.
Q: Which classic cocktail is famously made with gin, lemon juice, sugar, and champagne?
A: French 75.
Q: What does the acronym IBU stand for in the beer world?
A: International Bitterness Units.
Q: In the UK, what is a "Publican"?
A: A person who owns or manages a pub.
Q: Which US Constitutional Amendment started Prohibition in 1920?
A: The 18th Amendment.
Q: What is the difference between Tequila and Mezcal?
A: Tequila is a type of Mezcal, but it must be made specifically from Blue Weber Agave
Q: What is the name of the "secret" ingredient in a Pisco Sour that gives it its frothy white head?
A: Egg white
Q: Trappist beers must be brewed within the walls of a monastery. Which country has the most Trappist breweries?
A: Belgium.
Q: What does it mean to "Build" a drink?
A: To pour ingredients directly into the serving glass without shaking or stirring beforehand
Q: Which famous world leader was known for his "Pol Roger" champagne habit and a martini with "just a bow in the direction of France" (very little vermouth)?
A: Winston Churchill.
Q: In Greece, what anise-flavored aperitif is typically served with ice and water, turning cloudy when mixed?
A: Ouzo
Q: If a guest orders a martini "In and Out," what are they asking the bartender to do with the vermouth?
A: Rinse the glass with vermouth and dump it out before adding the gin/vodka.
Q: Which hop variety is famously known for its "grapefruit and pine" aroma and fueled the American IPA craze?
A: Cascade.
Q: What is a "Speed Rail" or "Speed Well"?
A: The rack directly in front of the bartender containing the most frequently used liquors.
Q: What spirit was George Washington famously known for distilling at Mount Vernon?
Rye Whiskey
Q: Which Japanese spirit can be made from sweet potato (imo), barley (mugi), or rice (kome)?
A: Shōchū