What is a cocktail?

To me, a cocktail is as simple as combining any spirit with a modifier — and yes, I include ice as a modifier. A cocktail is like a musical chord, each ingredient acting as a note to create drinkable music.

Take a simple glass of bourbon with a large ice cube: two notes. The act of adding ice both chills and dilutes the whiskey, creating a new flavor experience distinct from the spirit on its own.

Then there are the three-note drinks like the Negroni or the Margarita, and on it goes — all the way to something like an Adios, with seven ingredients or more.

Ultimately, what matters most is the taste. If you enjoy what’s in front of you, you’ve nailed it — whether it’s a simple rum and Coke or a five- or six-ingredient concoction served in an ornate tiki mug, complete with a tiny umbrella and a generous sprig of mint.