Dead Ringer

A young mezcal that has not been aged for more than 2 months.

A rum aged in charred oak barrels that lend their color to the rum. If a recipe calls for this rum it is likely refuring to a darker colored rum with a rich and strong yet smooth flavor. Common varieties come from Jamaica and Haiti.

A variety of sherry characterized by being darker than fino but lighter than oloroso. It starts as a fino, fortified to approximately 13.5% alcohol with a cap of flor yeast limiting its exposure to the air, however becomes an amontillado when the flor fails to develop adequately or is killed by additional fortification. Without the layer of flor, amontillado must then be fortified to approximately 17.5% alcohol to slow oxidation. The drink is slowly exposed to oxygen through porous American or Canadian oak casks, gaining a darker colour and richer flavour. It is named after the Montilla region of Spanin where it originated in the 18th century, however the name is also used commercially as a simple measure of color to label any sherry lying between a fino and an oloroso.

An Italian amaro distilled from the Nonino family, known for their grappa, which sets up the base of this amaro; 35% ABV

An arrack based sweetened liqueur produced in Sweden and Finland. You can make it yourself, here is a recipe from Serious Eats: Cut 1 lemon into thin slices, remove the seeds. Place slices in a sealable glass jar with 1 clove and 1 crushed cardamom pod. Add 1 cup of cachaça, seal and shake, then let sit for 1 day. Steep a tea bag in 1/2 cup hot water for 5-7 minutes. Remove the bag, then add 2/3 cup sugar, mix until it dissolves. Strain the cachaça mixture through a cheese cloth, add the syrup, then let rest overnight. Enjoy!

A syrup made from dissolving granulated sugar (sucrose) in water. Regular simple is made by combining 1:1 sugar:water by mass, rich simple is 2:1 sugar:water by mass although only 1.5 times as sweet as regular. We always use 1:1 syrup unless otherwise noted in the recipe itself.