Naturally, I get a lot of questions from people who use my site. I realized that if I shared with all of you some of these questions, and my answers, it might help you in your own quest for the perfect cocktail.

If you don't see your nagging question answered here, please feel free to e-mail me at "RobertHess@msn.com".

A: It is purely intentional that I don't even attempt to list every cocktail that you might possibly know on my site. My goal is to try to identify what I feel are the cocktails that truely embody the concept of "cusine de cocktail" that is so near and dear to my heart. Drinks such as the Screwdriver, Sex on the Beach, Gin & Tonic, Apple Martini, and many others just aren't up to the challenge.

Q: What is Simple Syrup?

A: Simple Syrup is just sugar that is pre-dissolved in water. Since Sugar doesn't dissolve well in cold water, and even worse in cold alcohol, it is often prefered to use a pre-dissolved sugar instead of granulated sugar. To make your own Simple Syrup, just bring 2 cups of water to a boil, reduce the heat to simmer, then stir in 4 cups of sugar. When fully dissolved, remove from the heat and allow to cool. You can now bottle it into a squeeze bottle of some sort. You can keep it best in the refrigerator, or if you want to keep it out on the counter, add 2 ounces of Vodka.

A: There are two distinctly different types of sour mix. One is the type you buy in the store, and should be avoided at all costs. It is a horrid mixture of chemicals and artificial ingredients that attempt to taste like the real thing. The other type of sour mix is "homemade" and is very simple to prepare. Just combine equal parts of Simple Syrup (see above) and Lemon Juice, and that's Sour Mix. Some people like to make theirs with half lemon and half lime juice, and some even add a splash of orange juice.

A: There are over a dozen different stories about how the term "cocktail" originated, but no definiative proof as to which one is even close to the real story. What we do know, is that the first recorded use of the term in print appears to date back from 1806, when it appeared in "The Balance", a newspaper of the day.

A: I've got a saying: "Drinking just to get drunk, is like having sex just to get pregnant." The process of drinking Beer, Wine, and of course cocktails, should be experienced as a cuisine. You should appreciate the artistry that went into preparing it, the flavors that the present as you drink them, and the friends that you are shaing this time with. If getting drunk is your sole purpose when you go out to a bar, then this website/channel is clearly not intended for you. In other words, that is a stupid question.

A: I've never been to a bartending school so I honestly can't provide any recommendations for good ones, or warn you about any bad ones. But if you are wanting to get a job as a bartender it is usually best to skip the schools and just try to get a job in a bar or restaurant as a server or barback. This usually doesn't require much in the way of prior experience at all, and it gives you a great foot in the door.

I've listed this very short list of questions here just to help get things started. I'm sure that there are some burning questions about cocktials that you have yourself, please feel free to send it my way, and if I feel it is of general interest to a wider audience, I'll list it here as well.

-DrinkBoy