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Tipples → Mixed Drinks
Mixological Elements
The elements are organized here by their inherent properties, and their utility for achieving desired effects in mixed drinks.
Aromatic-element ingrededients are those that register significantly to olfactory sensibility. They are used to aromatically accent drinks, or to aromatically distract olfactory function (as famously with bitters in the true Cocktail)
Aromatic-element ingredients include (but are not limited to): spices, herbs, and bitters.
Sour-element ingredients are those that are too tart for unsweeteded consumption†.
Sour-element ingredients include (but are not limited to): lemon juice, lime juice, vinegar, and acid phosphate.
Sweet-element ingredients are those that are too sweet for unmixed regular consumption†.
Sweet-element ingredients include (but are not limited to): honey, sugar, and syrups.
Strong-element ingredients are beverage products that contain non-incendental amounts of alcohol.
Strong-element ingredients include (but are not limited to): wine, beer, and liquor.
Weak-element ingredients are this that are mostly, or entirely, water.
Weak-element ingredients include (but are not limited to): water, ice, soda water, pop, brewed tea, and brewed coffee.
Thick-element ingredients are those that contain protein in amounts sufficient to produce the sensation of thickness to the palate.
Thick-element ingredients include (but are not limited to): cream, milk, coconut milk, eggs, and gelatin.
Succulent-element ingredients are those fruit (and vegetable) juice that are not too tart for unmixed, unsweetened, consumption†.
Succulent-element ingredients include (but are not limited to): orange juice, grapefruit juice, pineapple juice, and tomato juice.
† According to the preference of most people.
The roles of elements in mixed drinks may vary. One, or more, or three special roles may sometimes apply to an ingredient. They are as thus:
- The key element is the most indesipensible element to the identity of the drink. For example, one could endeavor to create a non-alcoholic 'Whiskey Sour' by using a 'Bourbon flavoring' as produced for the pastry indsutry, but, one could not make something like the same drink without anything sour to the taste involved. Therefore, the key element in Punches (the genre Sours fall under) is the sour element.
- The lead element is the element most recognizable to the palate in the initial tasting of the drink. For example, the whiskey used to make a Whiskey Cocktail should be the main ingredient recognozable to the palate of the drinker. Therefore, the lead element in Slings (the genre Cocktails fall under) is the strong element.
- The pivotal element is the element in which change is made to alter the sub-genre identity of the drink within the same overarching genre. For example, classic Rum Grog (a Straight Grog) would become Rum and Coke (a Charged Grog) if the rum were used to fortify a greater amount of Coca-Cola, instead of flat water. Therefore, the pivotal element in Grogs is the weak element.
The elemental notation of mixed drinks is as thus:
- SOUR
Underlining indicates an element that is a key element in a form of drink. When more than one element is underline, the balance between them should also be understood to be key to the nature of the drink. - THICK
Boldfacing indicates an element that is the lead element in a form of drink. - STRONG
Boldfacing and underlining indicates an element that is both the lead element, and key element, in a form of drink. - AROMATIC
Italicization indicates an element that is a pivotal element in a form of drink. - WEAK
Italicization and underlining indicated an element that is both a pivotal element, and a key element, in a form of drink.