Potable Alcohol is tasty for much the same reason fat and carbs are tasty – it’s calorically dense.

It’s also habit forming, much like caffeine or nicotine or THC,.in that it causes a temporary but enjoyable alteration of our neurochemistry.

(It can also be addictive like nicotine, in that regular use can lead to illness-like withdrawal symptoms.)

And, it’s also a solvent with distinct properties to water, allowing for preparations with distinctly different tastes from other foods. Which makes alcohol also slightly like salt or spices, in that it changes how other foods taste.