The cocktail is one of the great US inventions, bringing together several ingredients to fashion a drink even greater than the sum of its parts. This episode provides a brief history of the cocktail and recipes for some classic cocktails.

Absinthe is one of the most notorious of all spirits, associated with decadence, degeneration, and scandal. This episode explores the history of absinthe and its alternative pastis, as well as looking at other flavoured drinks such as amari and liqueurs.

Both tequila and mezcal have undergone a well-deserved revival in recent years, as both producers and consumers have recognised that both of these agave-based spirits are much more complex than popular preconceptions suppose. This episode focuses on what makes these spirits so distinctive.

The great drink of the Caribbean, rum is made in a vast range of styles, decisions at fermentation, distillation, maturation, and blending all affecting the final drink. This episode explores the different production methods and styles of rum that make it one on the world's great spirits.

Gin is a juniper-based spirit that excels in many cocktails. The fashion for gin has hit extreme highs as well as troughs - we're now living in a golden age for gin drinking, which is why it's necessary to have a good understanding of its history and production.

Vodka is the most widely drunk spirit globally, popular because of its clean, neutral taste. The spirit goes back centuries, changing due to fashion and technology. This episode focuses on how vodka is made and how to make sense of a drink that is so deliberately flavourless.

Calvados is the great apple-based spirit of Normandy, where it's too cold to grow grapes but perfect for apples as well as pears. Across Europe, there's a long tradition of fruit-based spirits, which this episode explores.

Grapes are used to make a wide range of spirits. This episode focuses on Armagnac from south-west France, Spanish brandy, pisco - controversially from both Peru and Chile - and grappa.

Cognac is the great spirit of France. Located near Bordeaux, it benefited from access to trade routes to become drunk around the world. This episode how cognac is made and what it tastes like.

Japan produces some of the best whisky in the world, made with an attention to detail bar none. In this episode, I also taste three whiskies - from Scotland, the US, and Japan.