We all love a good cocktail, but most of us don’t know what goes into our favourite mixed drinks.

With mixologists replacing barmen, the cocktail world has encroached into bizarre territories over recent years.

So what are some of the oddball ingredients you might see in cocktails? Here are 3 unusual cocktail ingredients that might just be in your next drink.

Porous pebbles

Do you enjoy your martini dry? Porous pebbles are used by bartenders to create the driest martinis possible, by placing two or three pebbles soaked in vermouth at the bottom of the glass. The chilled drink is poured over, resulting in the slightest hint of vermouth flavour.

Lactart

A whopping 75 percent of people on the planet are lactose intolerant according to this study. If you are one of those individuals, you should check with your barman if any of the drinks on the menu are laced with lactart. Made from lactid acid, lactart is an acid usually found in dairy products. Strangely enough it doesn’t taste like milk and its enjoyable tartness makes it an excellent replacement for lime and lemon juice in cocktails. Lactart  is also used in beers to reduce the yeast and enhance flavour.

Peppercorns

Szechuan Peppercorn is a popular spice used in Asian cuisine. It brings amazing floral and citrus notes to a cocktail,  along with heat that’s different from other peppers and chilies. Szechuan peppers will play tricks on your mouth with the tactile, prickly sensations they impart.