Whether present for flavor or looks (usually both), the humble garnish works hard to differentiate your drink.
Citrus: peel (perhaps expressed, run around the rim or stem of the glass, or flamed), wheel, or wedge.
Fruit/vegetable: An artichoke leaf and maraschino cherry (sipped at an artichoke-themed restaurant during the annual Castroville Artichoke Festival)
Spices! Nutmeg is typical. This is atop a milk punch, and nutmeg is historically present in punches.
A sesame seed rim.
Flowers: here, a rose.
Flowers: lavender.
Tiny paper umbrellas!
Literally a burnt match. It was used to smoke the glass, then added as garnish.
Shaved dark chocolate.
Herbs: mint, pea leaf.
Herbs: rosemary! Ubiquitous in my drinks; as my favorite herb I sprint toward it in drink descriptions.
Herb/fire: Flaming rosemary! First dipped in everclear before set alight.
Herbs and spices: I should have asked. the drink is based on tom yum soup so I suspect that’s NOT nutmeg.
Punch garnishes: an ice ring containing edible flowers and fruits that match the punch.
Differing schools of thought rule the citrus peel. Many a mixologist has expressed a peel over my drink. But what happens next differs. Some drop the peel into the drink. Some circle the rim with the peel first. Others believe that rubbing the peel on the stem of the glass is the proper next step, as it leaves warm citrus notes on the drinker’s hand and adds to the nose of the drink.
I’ll update as I receive more interesting examples. Comments about your oddest garnishes are welcome!
Coupe Tales 
I’m struck dumb by the burnt match… Clearly no federal agencies were called, but how on earth did it taste?
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