Mexican tequila is made from the blue agave, a plant that is similar to a cactus that thrives in the volcanic soil of the Tequila region.

Just like orange juice, there are hundreds of cocktails based on using apple juice, such as Apple Pie Martini, Voodoo or Orchard Breeze.

Berry liqueurs are often made by infusion or by maceration of blackberries, blackcurrants or raspberries, producing a rich, fruity flavour.

This popular, luxurious sparkling wine is mostly produced out of black grapes in the towns of Epernay and Reims, in the Champagne region of France.

This popular type of brandy is named after the French town of Cognac and produced according to a strict tradition.

Standard cola usually contains caffeine, lots of sugar and caramel colouring and is often used in long cocktails, like Long Island Iced Tea.

Double cream is used to add a rich, thick texture to both hot and cold cocktails. It is often diluted with milk to achieve the desired consistency.

Good quality fresh coffee can make a real difference to the taste of a finished cocktail, providing a rich, deep stimulating flavour to the drink.

Mint is mostly a perennial herb that typically refers to the genus Mentha, which includes about 25 species. It is one of the most common cocktail ingredients.

Less strong in flavour than ginger beer, this non-alcoholic carbonated drink contains essence of ginger, colourings and sweeteners.

Grand Marnier is a very popular French orange-flavoured liqueur that can be enjoyed on its own or mixed in a wide variety of cocktails.

Also known as pomegranate syrup, commercially produced grenadine syrups today are often flavoured with red berries and cherry juice.

By far the most important ingredient for preparing cocktails, ice comes in many forms and used in different ways accordingly.

A mix of concentrated lime juice and sugar, lime cordial was first used to preserve lime juice without alcohol. It is used to add citrusy flavour to cocktails.

A maraschino cherry is a preserved, sweetened cherry, which features an almond flavour. It is mostly used to garnish cocktails.

Perhaps the most commonly used fruit juice for mixing cocktails, orange juice is packed with vitamin C and extremely easy to make yourself.

Raspberries are sweet and intense, rich in antioxidant vitamin C and a key ingredient for many cocktails. They are mostly used for their juice or as a garnish.

Known as seltzer in the U.S. and Canada, soda water is carbonated with carbon dioxide and is used to dilute cocktails and alcohols.

Many cocktail ingredients are naturally sweet, but some recipes require sugar cubes to balance the bitterness of certain ingredients.

Fresh tea adds colour, flavour and a caffeine twist to a cocktail, without overpowering the other ingredients present in the drink.

Native to Mexico, vanilla is the 2nd most expensive spice after saffron and used to flavour lots of cocktails. It is also often used as a cocktail garnish.

White rum (known as light or silver rum) is produced in many countries in Central and South America, such as Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.