I never have more than one drink before dinner. But I do like that one to be large and very strong and very well made.
- James Bond
Many people equate a good drink with a strong drink. This isn’t necessarily true; in fact, in many cases the opposite is true. For example, cocktails are meant to reflect the combination of different flavors; they are a balance of tastes which are meant to complement each other to produce something greater than the sum of it’s parts. If you make a Hurricane so strong that all you taste is rum, than you might as well not call it a Hurricane.
Some drinks are made to display the taste of a single liquor. A conniseur of scotch, bourbon or even tequila will sip their poison of taste and enjoy all the nuances of that liquor. BUT, since that is a single liquor, perhaps on the rocks, you really can’t make it any stronger than the single liquor is naturally.
Even a martini is meant to have the taste of vermouth complementing the gin or vodka.
So, when you are making a drink, especially a cocktail, stick to the recipe until you learn what it is supposed to taste like. Then, you can experiment if you like to make a variation that you prefer.
