In watch making terminology Complications are the additional features (e.g. a window showing date) in a watch over simply telling time (called movement). The more complications a watch has the more complex and expensive it is.

Cocktails can have complications too, ingredients over and above the basic formulation. Addditon of these complications (or ornamentations) adds subtle nuances to the drink, by adding flavor, color, and aroma and balance the sweet / sourness of the drink.

Bitters

The most common ornamentations are Bitters. Bitters are made from herbs, spices, roots, bark, flowers, and fruits. They are usually made by macerating the ingredients in alcohol and water, and then adding sugar and other flavorings. The resulting liquid is then strained and bottled.

Fat

Some cocktails add fat (cream, milk, egg white, etc) to add body and texture.

Foam

Foam is fat in a fancy form.

Salt

Salt is one of the most common ornamentations in cocktails. It is used to balance the sweetness and to bring out the flavors of the drink. It is also used to add a salty flavor to the drink. The most obvious applications is the addtion of a salt rim to the serving glass. However, the hidden and subtle application is through a few drops of saline water in the drink.

Brine

For double complications, use brine from pickles.

Heat

Samin Nosrat is talking about heat as in fire. Will come back to the fire part later.

Some cocktails add heat (chili, ginger, etc) to the drink to add a spicy flavor and heat to the drink. This can come in the form of fresh chili pepper, chili flakes, chili powder or chili salt. Even the deadliest of all natural chili, the ghost pepper, is used in cocktails.

Botanicals

• Rose
• Hibiscus
• Jasmine
• Mint
• Lemon grass

Herbs

• Curry leaves
• Coriander leaves
• Mint leaf
• Lemon leaf
• Lime leaf
• Orange leaf
• Grapefruit leaf
• Lemon grass

Aromatic

• Rose water

• Kewra water

• Jasmine water

• Ginger syrup

• Chili syrup

• Cucumber syrup

• Dhungar

Spices

• Nutmeg
• Cinnamon
• Cardamom
• Cloves
• Star anise
• Fennel
• Fenugreek
• Saffron
• Black pepper
• White pepper
• Cayenne pepper
• Turmeric
• Garam masala
• Chili powder
• Cumin powder
• Coriander powder
• Ginger
• and of course Chaat masala

Garnishes

Garnishes are more than just decorations, they also add to the taste and aroma of cocktails. Garnishes can be as simple as a lemon slice or as complex as a flower. Garnishes can be made from fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, flowers.

Fruits

• Ginger slice
• Lemon peel
• Lime peel
• Orange peel
• Grapefruit peel

Vegetables

• Cucumber slice

Herbs

• Paan leaf
• Orange leaf
• Grapefruit leaf
• Lemon grass

Visual

Complications can be strictly visual, and can still add joy.

Paper umbrellas.

Flowers

Gold leaf anyone?