The True Cost of a Cocktail

https://punchdrink.com/articles/the-true-cost-of-a-cocktail-nyc/

Art by Carolyn Figel

“Order a Margarita—a relatively simple and ubiquitous drink that could easily cost $15, plus tip—and within moments the drink appears, prepared by a skilled bartender who makes the task look effortless. With hardly any visible labor, it might be tempting to assume that the majority of that $15 price tag goes toward the ingredients: the tequila, triple sec, lime juice and agave nectar. But most of those dollars in fact go toward the invisible elements of a bar that are no less important than what ends up in your coupe. And more often than not, the sticker price barely covers the true cost of your drink.”