This poster (“The Periodic Table of Mixology”) that I once bought for my sister is hanging outside my parents’ bedroom (click on it for a more readable version).
As its name implies, it’s presenting cocktails in a format similar to the periodic table of elements.
When I first saw it, I thought it was great. However, the more I study it, the more annoyed I get.
The real periodic table is systematic, but the only feature resembling a system here is having tequila-based drinks in the first columns, vodka-based ones in the next ones, and so on.
As far as I can see, nothing else is systematic. Column 1 is not different from column 2 in any systematic fashion, and the rows don’t display any regular differences at all.
Somebody should redo this properly.
First of all, I think a higher number should imply a stronger drink. That is, cocktail number 1 should be almost non-alcoholic, number 2 should be slightly stronger, and so on.
Second, there should be similarities both horizontally and vertically. I wouldn’t necessarily order it by spirit, but perhaps rather by appeareance or taste.
It won’t be easy, I realise, but surely it would be a worthwhile research project for some inebriated chemistry students…?