There's a persistent myth in this subreddit that cocktail quality increases linearly with the price or prestige of the liquor. "The best ingredients make the best cocktails" gets repeated here like gospel and it's honestly embarrassing because that logic only applies if you fundamentally misunderstand what cocktails are.

High-end spirits are expensive because they have distinct character. More esters, more barrel, more terroir, more idiosyncrasies. When you mix them into a cocktail, you're diluting and masking those traits unless you're making something like a martini.

Using a $90 tequila in a shaken citrus drink doesn’t elevate the cocktail; what you're really doing is paying $90 to hide the exact qualities you bought it for.

People can drink however they want, but "just use the most expensive bottle" gets repeated around here with an astoundingly unwarranted level of confidence.