Le Latin

Often referred to as silver or white, these rums are actually lightly aged (1-3 years), but have had their color removed by charcoal filtering. They are molasses based (as opposed to the cane juice-based rhum agricole, clairin, or cachaça). Flavors range from light (Bacardi, Caña Brava, Plantation 3 Star, El Dorado 3) to more flavorful (Probitas, Ten-To-One).

The most common fruit juice used in cocktails. This citrus juice is about 6% acid; pure citric acid. Lemon juice should be used the day it is squeezed, some like it freshly squeezed and others like it a few hours old.

A wine made from non-colored grape pulp (skin removed), primarily white grapes.

Considered to be the brine left over from pickling olives. Used most commonly in the Martini, with the addition of said to be 'dirty.' It has a salty and vinegary flavor.

Granulated sugar is a sucrose formed with glucose and fructose join by covalent bonding. Sugar is soluble in water, increasing the surface area (smaller grain size) or heating the water, dissolves sugar faster. Some cocktails use sugar directly but more use it indirectly in syrups/liqueurs.

Known for the Martini, the cocktail olive is the fruit of the olive tree, pickled is a salty brine. This may or may not be stuffed with pimento (red bell pepper).