Beer is one of the oldest intentionally crafted alcohol in our history. Coming from cereal grains like wheat and barley, it has ties to our domestication of crops for agriculture. There are over twenty distinct styles of beer, and hundreds of variations of those styles. While we may not make it ourselves, intimate knowledge of beer will help us to better serve our guests.

Wine is one of the easiest alcohols to make, but one of the hardest to perfect. All it takes to make wine is fruit and yeast, and it’s so easy that the first wine in the world was made unintentionally. There are hundreds of styles from dozens of grape varietals, each affected by the soil they grow in, the amount of sunlight they receive, and the temperatures they face.

Spirits are the base of all cocktails, and there are dozens of types of spirits. In the US, there are generally five spirits in the speed well: vodka, rum, gin, tequila, and whiskey. Additionally, there are dozens of liqueurs on the back bar. These can range from fruity to floral to bitter to savory. Understanding how these spirits interact with each other will help you to create.

In mixology, there are limitless ingredients that can go into creating a fine cocktail. Originally, a cocktail was composed of a spirit, bitters, sugar, and water, but that has since expanded to include fresh fruit juice, sodas, syrups, egg whites, and more. Understanding the taxonomy of cocktails will expand your horizons of possibility. With these, the combinations are endless.