So what is whiskey?  And rye and bourbon for that matter? 

A whiskey is a spirit distilled from fermented grain(s) and then aged in barrels. 

They vary from place to place by blend of grains used, number of distillations, types of barrel used, ageing time and temperature, filtration method, ingredients added, and much more... 

Why a cocktail is called a cocktail is a question that has a number of different answers, which are each ridiculous, yet strangely plausible in that it would be nice to believe one of them...

Either, a barmaid in New York called Betsy, who thought outside the traditional garnish box, started serving mixed alcoholic drinks adorned with cock’s tail stirrers taken from her feathery bar décor.  Or, savvy tavern keepers would...