Mixology Discovery Guide

There are as many ways to mix a unique alcoholic beverage as there are spirits, liqueurs and mixers to use in your cocktail. Some create a sweeter final product, some bitter, some very true to the taste of the base spirit used. In this richly-layered world of mixology, how can you know which cocktails—which mixed drinks—will appeal to you?

A helping hand in the world of mixology.

The Mixology Discovery Guide was created to help you navigate the world of mixed drinks at your local NSLC. Use this guide as an introduction to combine base and liqueur products to help you discover new cocktail flavours.

Most cocktails can be broken down into two main components: a base and/or a liqueur. Beyond this, various mixers and additional ingredients can be added to further enhance and distinguish the cocktail.

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Base

A base spirit is any spirit that has been made by distilling an alcoholic beverage but not sweetened with sugar.

Liqueur

Liqueurs, like base spirits, are made by distilling an alcoholic beverage. Unlike base spirits they are sweetened with sugar and flavoured.

Here’s the info you’ll find on the shelf.

① Taste Profile

The spirits category has been divided into “Base” and “Liqueur”. Base spirits are not sweetened, while liqueurs are sweetened with a flavouring agent.
② Flavours

Both base spirits and liqueurs have a range of flavours. Some, such as vodka, can be quite subtle, while others have more pronounced flavours acquired from their primary ingredient, flavouring agents or oak.
③ Mixology

Many spirits are enhanced by adding a mix, while others are best enjoyed on their own. We’ve provided suggestions based on the flavour profile of each—these are starting points to spark personal experimentation.