Cocktails: Mixing makes you happy!

Anyone who has ever sat at a cocktail bar and browsed the menu knows that there is a sheer endless selection of different drinks. In the world of cocktails, there is a suitable drink for every mood, occasion or taste. Some like it sweet and creamy, others prefer strong and sour. The interesting thing about the world of cocktails is that the range is constantly growing, as the bartenders of this world are constantly developing new, exciting creations and combinations.

There are many characteristics, according to which varieties of cocktails can be distinguished: Some have many ingredients - some few, some taste fruity and fresh - others sour, classics like Manhattan meet new interpretations like New Fashioned. Four of the most important cocktail types are Highballs, Sours, Spirits Drinks and fruity fresh cocktails.

Highballs are usually long drinks, which consist of a shot of a basic spirit and are topped up with soda or juice. A simple variation is the Toki Highball, which consists only of Suntory Toki and club soda. This has the advantage that the fruity aromas of grapefruit and mint in the Whisky are not overpowered and come out wonderfully. The fruity and fresh Bourbon Dash, on the other hand, contains a dash of sugar syrup in addition to Maker's Mark, orange and lemon juice. A dry variation with Maker's Mark is Horse's Neck, which is mixed with ginger ale and a dash of bitter. If you prefer Scotch Whisky, Whisky & Ginger is your best bet: Equal parts of slightly smoky 15-year-old Johnnie Walker, spicy-sweet ginger ale and fruity fresh cranberry juice make a balanced, refreshing cocktail.

Fruity cocktails with a freshness boost date back at least to the 18th century. At that time, these drinks were sometimes recommended as a medical food supplement. Those were the days! On their fruity base, they are combined in such a way that they release complex aromas. The cocktail Fruitcake tastes like a very fruity pie with oranges, cranberries and lemons. While this one is mixed with Bourbon, the Irish Rose contains Irish Whiskey - what else? Together with fresh lemon juice and sweet grenadine syrup, the result is a pleasantly sour and berry-like drink. Some cocktails are even served hot. One variation, which can be either a sweet and fruity refreshment for the summer or a hot cocktail for cold autumn and winter days, is the Apple of my Eye. Irish Whiskey, apple juice and honey syrup taste great on ice as well as heated up.

As the name suggests, sours are acidic cocktails, such as the Whisky Sour. They belong to the most famous and absolutely drinkable cocktails - total crowd pleasers. The classic Sour recipe is uncomplicated: a basic spirit with sour and sweet components. In some sours, foamy egg white is added to Whisky, fresh lemon juice and sweet sugar syrup. One recipe is, for example, the Perfect Scotch Sour, whose composition of Johnnie Walker Green Label, lemon juice and sugar syrup gets a kick out of a dash of bitter. Often the Whisky Sour is prepared with fresh egg white for a nice whitecap on the drink. Grand Derby, on the other hand, is a sour without egg white and with Bourbon instead of Scotch. It tastes a bit milder due to the Bourbon, but still well balanced between sweetness and acidity.

Spirits drinks include vermouth and bitter cocktails like Martini or Manhattan. Moreover, classics like Old Fashioned are also among the Spirits Drinks. It goes back to the original recipe, which only requires a basic spirit, a touch of sweetness and a little bit of bitter. In Manhattan, American Bourbon, vermouth Martini Rosso and a little bit of bitter result in a melting pot of flavours with soft sweet notes, fruitiness and tangy spices. A more modern interpretation of the well-known Old Fashioned is New Fashioned, which is mixed with Irish Whiskey instead of Bourbon and honey syrup instead of sugar and therefore has a more subtle, flowery sweetness.