The best known of hundreds of Gin-based mixed drinks is the Gin and white vermouth combination called the Martini. As is usually the case with most popular mixed drinks, the origins of the martini are disputed. One school of thought holds that it evolved from the late-19th-century Martinez cocktail, a rather cloying mixture of Old Tom-style Gin and sweet vermouth.

A dissenting sect holds that it was created in the bar of the Knickerbocker Hotel in New York City in the early 20th century. The ratio of Gin to vermouth started out at about 2 to 1, and it has been getting drier ever since. The great British statesman Winston Churchill, who devoted a great deal of thought and time to drinking, was of the opinion that passing the cork from the vermouth bottle over the glass of Gin was sufficient.

The martini has frequently served as a metaphor for some of the great social and political issues of our times. President Jimmy Carter denounced the “three martini lunch” in a thinly-veiled attempt at class warfare during his election campaign. He was not reelected.

Source: Tastings.com

It is fair to say with anything that the old ones are always the best. Take the great novels and movies that have stood the test of time for example; War & Peace and It’s a Wonderful Life, these will never stop being appreciated no matter how many years may pass. While new creations may come out boasting more colors and excitement, it is still the classics that stand apart from the modern rabble, boasting qualities that are timeless. This can also be said of cocktails.

The range and variety of cocktails is truly amazing, there is a never ending selection of new cocktails being created all the time which utilize new flavors and preparation methods. However, many of these new cocktails still owe their inception to the cocktails of history; the classics that will never be forgot and will never stop being enjoyed. If you are fancying a cocktail, then why not take a waltz in the past and try some classic cocktails. Here is a selection of three of the old greats that are as exciting and delicious as any of the new breed.

One cocktail that is obviously an old timer among the bar selection is an Old Fashioned, a classic bourbon based cocktail. This cocktail truly is one of the oldest there is, arguably the first drink to be referred to as a cocktail.  The first use of the specific name ‘Old Fashioned’ was recorded in the 1880s at the Pendennis Club, a gentlemen’s club in Louisville, Kentucky.

To make this ancient concoction you will need 1 sugar cube, 2-3 dashes of Angostura bitters, 3 oz bourbon, 2 orange slices, and maraschino cherries for garnishing. To prepare place the sugar cube at the bottom of an old-fashioned glass (named after the cocktail itself), saturate the cube with the bitters and add an orange slice. Muddle these ingredients, fill the glass with ice cubes, add the bourbon, stir well and garnish with another orange slice and maraschino cherry.

The Tom Collins is the quintessential classic long drink. This drink was first recorded in writing in 1876 by ‘the father of American mixology’ Jerry Thomas in his book ‘The Bartender’s Guide.’ There are many variations on the old standard Tom Collins utilizing different spirits: a John Collins (bourbon), a Vodka Collins and a Juan Collins (tequila), to name but a few. But the classic standard gin Collins remains the popular favorite.

If you feel like enjoying a Tom Collins you will need 1 1/2 oz gin, 1 oz lemon juice, 1/2 oz sugar syrup, club soda, and maraschino cherries and lemon slices for garnish. To prepare first pour the gin, lemon juice, and sugar syrup in a Collins glass (another glass that derives its name from the classic cocktail that first utilized its design) with ice cubes and stir thoroughly. Top up with soda water and garnish with cherries and lemon slices.

We now move across the Atlantic to France for the next classic cocktail on the list. The exact date of this cocktail’s conception is unclear, but it is believed to be shortly after the First World War in Paris where the Ritz Hotel claims the acclimation of giving birth to this classic. The first recipe for a Sidecar cocktail appeared in 1922 in Harry MacElhone’s Harry’s ABC of Mixing Cocktails.

A Sidecar includes 1 1/2 oz Cognac (though the use of bourbon is traditional as well), 3/4 oz Cointreau, and 1/4 oz lemon juice. To prepare pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes, shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Why fix it if it is not broken? Next time you feel like a cocktail try one of these old greats and enjoy the taste of cocktail mixology’s history.

Whether you’re celebrating your big wins at the Craps table, or drowning in your sorrows after losing your house on Blackjack, Las Vegas has a drink that’s perfect for you. Make sure to bring your American Express though, some of the world’s most expensive cocktails can be found on the Las Vegas strip. From whimsical to decadent, here’s a top 10 list of Las Vegas’ Most extravagant and expensive Cocktails…

10.) Warp Core Breach – $29.50

Star Trek fans will this themed drink made to resemble something that might be ordered on Deep Space 9. Made at Quark’s Bar in the Las Vegas Hilton this $29.50 drink has enough punch to make a Klingon dizzy. Made with 10 ounces of liquor from five different-flavored rums, Razzmatazz and fruit juices this drink is big enough to share. The drink comes in a Star Trek-like glass and a little dry ice ads to the ambiance by making this concoction bubble over and smoke.

9.) Goddess Elixir Margarita – $99

From a place a little more down to earth but just across the border comes the next most extravagant cocktail, the Goddess Elixir available at Isla Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar in Treasure Island. This drink which is assembled table-side by your very own Tequila Goddess, is big enough to share with 3 of your closest friends. The Goddess Elixir comes with big chunks of pineapple and citrus buoyed by Herradura Selección Suprema, 100-year old Grand Marnier Centenaire, Cointreau and fresh citrus syrup.

8.) Liquid Gold – $175

Fleur de Lys in Mandalay Bay offers Liquid Gold by the ounce for $175. Made with Grand Marnier Centenaire, Louis XIII Cognac, Krug Grand Cru Champagne, Fee Brothers West Indian Orange Bitters and raw sugar garnished with 23-karat gold leafing and a burnt orange twist.

7.) Seablue Martini – $275

What’s Las Vegas without martinis? The Seablue Restaurant at the MGM Grand has one of the best martinis in Vegas. Made with super-premium vodka and Beluga caviar this drink carries a price tag of $275.

6.) Gotham Martini & High Roller Martini – $1,000

In order to order this drink, you really have to be doing well at the progressive slots. The Capital Grille at the Fashion Show Mall serves drinks made just for High Rollers. Each of these $1000 martinis come paired with a piece of Lagos jewelry. The Gotham Martini comes with a strand of pearls. The High Roller, named for the Vegas Strip, includes a diamond pave ring. For each cocktail sold, about $500 goes to Share our Strength, a charity that battles hunger around the globe. No word on what sorts of liquor are used to make these drinks, but it seems the value is really in the jewelry and the feeling of giving to a good cause.

5.) King Richard’s Pride – $1,000

In Vegas why not be treated like royalty? King Richard’s Pride is a $1,000 a drink consisting of Hennessy Richard, Dom Perignon Rosé 1996 and Chambord Liqueur Royale de France, splashes of lime and cranberry juices and one orange slice, all served in a keepsake Baccarat cocktail glass. BOA is located at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.

4.) The Presidential – $1,000

The Body English Nightclub at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino features a $1,000 martini called The Presidential. This drink includes Remy Martin Louis XIII cognac and Dom Perignon champagne.

3.) Duvet Passion – $1,500

The Seablue Restaurant at the MGM Grand also has the 4th most expensive cocktail. The Duvet Passion featuring a mix of rare aged cognacs and a mix of rare vintage champagnes garnished with a vanilla orchid petal can be purchased for a mere $1500. This passionate drink which was introduced on Valentine’s Day in 2005, is sure to get you some love.

2.) High Limit Kir Royale – $2,200

Also at the MGM Grand, you can double down on the High Limit Kir Royale. This $2200 libation is only available at The Teatro Euro Bar. Louis Roederer Cristal Rose champagne, Hardy Perfection cognac, Grand Marnier Cent Cinquantenaire and fresh muddled raspberries go into making this extravagant cocktail.

1.) Ménage a Trois – $3,000

If you’re feeling a little frisky why not order a Ménage a Trois at Tryst at the 5 Diamond Award-winning Wynn Hotel. This sexy cocktail is made with Cristal Rosé, Hennessy Ellipse and Grand Marnier Cent-cinquantenaire. 23-karat gold flakes and liquid gold syrup decorate this decadent cocktail. For $3,000 you can sip this drink through a golden straw studded with a 9-point diamond — yours to keep of course.

Wondering what was the most expensive drink ever sold in Vegas? The most expensive Vegas Cocktail was served by Master Mixologist Francesco Lafranconi at Wolfgang Puck’s Postrio on May 7th, 2003 . This drink which was sold at live auction for $8,000 to benefit Alzheimer’s Research during “One Cool Night”, was served in a Christofle Limited Edition Cocktail Glass by Adam D. Tihany. This outrageous cocktail was made up of a delicious blend of Hennessy Timeless harmoniously combined with Grand Marnier 150th Anniversary liqueur, topped with Dom Perignon Oenotheque 1973 vintage, garnished with 22-karat gold leaves, and stirred with a diamond swizzle. Unfortunately, this drink was a one-time deal, although if you’re looking to spend $8,000 for a drink be sure to ask your Maitre`di. In Las Vegas I’m sure they will be able to accommodate you.

If you are looking for a special treat, why not spoil yourself with a Champagne cocktail? Perfect for any party or celebration, you’ll get a truly spectacular cocktail, along with all the taste of your favourite Champagne. To help you get started, give these ideas a try.

Traditional Champagne Cocktail

For the classic Champagne cocktail, add four drops of Angostura Bitters to a sugar cube in a Champagne flute. Pour on a dash of brandy and top up with Champagne. Then sit back and enjoy the taste sensation as it changes from dry to sweet.

Bellini

To make this famous fruity peach cocktail, add one-third peach purée to two-thirds Champagne. Mix together and enjoy!

Black Velvet

If you fancy a change from your usual pint of beer, try mixing Champagne with stout. Sounds an odd combination but try it and see. Simply add one half Champagne with one half stout. Guinness, in particular, works a treat.

Bucks Fizz

For a simple but refreshing cocktail, mix two parts Champagne with one part orange juice and serve.

Champagne Charlie

Mix a shot of apricot brandy with Champagne for the ultimate in Champagne cocktail sophistication.

Disco Fizz

For this super bright blue cocktail, add a dash of blue curacao, elderflower cordial, pineapple juice and lemon juice to a Champagne flute, and top up with Champagne.

Emma Peel

Pour a dash of pineapple juice into a shot of cherry brandy. Simply top up with Champagne and you’ll get the perfect summery cocktail.

Flirtini

There are a couple of ways of making this delicious cocktail but all of the recipes have similar ingredients. Try mixing vodka, cointreau and Champagne with pineapple juice, or triple sec, vodka and Champagne with cranberry juice and a squeeze of lemon. Not sure which one to go for? Why not try them both and see!

Kir Royal

This is a traditional favourite. Simply add Champagne to crème de cassis for a super-stylish and refreshing aperitif.

OK ladies; let’s get down to drinking business! Nights at bars and nighclubs always tend to have something to do with beautiful cocktails. Those colourful, sweet, fruity and often creamy beverages that we sip on for hours really do make a great night out. We sip and sip and it isn’t until we stand to head to the dance floor that we realize just how much alcohol was in our glasses.

Cocktails have certainly developed over time. Traditionally, these nice blends were a real treat to cover up the bad tastes of badly made beverages throughout the bars and clubs of the 1920′s. The period of prohibition saw the banning of cocktails because they were seen as drinks with intoxicating liquors. However, comercialisation of the popular mixers started in the 1960′s when books and films made specific references to martinis. Since then, cocktails have taken on a life of their own with all kinds of explicit names, and interesting combinations of fruit, vegetables, alcohol and spices.

I’m the first to the bar when cocktails are on offer. I love tasting all kinds of new and strange blends, but there are a few which are truly amazing. Here are my top five favorites.

Five: Manhattan

In the 1870′s, Iain Marshall mixed a drink at the Manhattan Club in New York City for a dinner hosted by Winston Churchill’s mother. The success of the dinner gave the drink a place in the hearts of New Yorkers where people would go to bars and nightclubs asking staff to make the Manhattan Club drink. Many authors have written about the cocktail including William Schmidt in his 2007, The Flowing Bowl. Unlike other famous cocktails, the original recipe has remained untouched and is still made from Rye, Vermouth and Angostura Bitters with a garnish of Maraschino cherry.

Four: Pina Colada

The life of the Pina Colada is confusing. The origin and who actually created this baby has been argued for years. Consistent tails say that the Pina Colada [Spanish for strained pineapple], was discovered by Roberto Cofresi. This Puerto Rican pirate used the cocktail to boost morale among his sailers in the 1800′s. The drink was originally made with coconut, pineapple and White Rum however, as South America’s culinary skills developed; coconut cream was used adding a smooth, milky texture to this bar and nightclub favourite.

Three: Singapore Sling

While working at the Raffle Hotel in Singapore, Ngiam Tong Boon created a masterpiece. He poured Gin, Heering Cherry Liqueur, Cherry Brandy, Cointrueau, Dom Benedictine and Grenadine and the Singapore Sling was born. Throughout history, bars and nightclubs everywhere have sold the famous drink and the hotel where the drink started its life has become somewhat of an icon. The original recipe can still be found in the hotel bar. Bar staff still serve Singapore Slings in the same way [tall], but it’s not mixed in the traditional method. Today they are premixed and dispensed using an automatic dispenser to combine the alcohol and the pineapple together more evenly and faster.

Two: The Bellini

This gem was created by a Venetian named Giuseppe Cipriani between the years of 1934 and 1948. Cipriani was the founder of a popular bar in Venice and developed the drink made from Sparkling Wine [usually Prosecco], and Peach Juice to be sold in his venue. He dubbed the now famous cocktail the Bellini because of its pink colour – a prominent shade found in a painting by artist, Giovanni Bellini.

One: Cosmopolitan

The eternal girly cocktail made famous through Sex and the City, the Cosmopolitan was born in 1985. Bartender, Cheryl Cook created the cocktail because she found it strange that people in bars and nightclubs would order martinis just to be seen holding the stylish glasses. She wanted to create a drink which was visually appealing, simple to drink and served martini style. Historic recipes by Cook read that the drink needed Absolut Vodka, Citron, Triple Sec and Cranberry Juice. However, in 1987, the drink got a facelift by New York bartender, Toby Cecchini who introduced Cointreau and a squeeze of fresh lime.

Start sipping!

By Nastasia Campanella

Cocktails are forever in fashion, although recipe trends may vary. The fun part is, anyone can make a good cocktail as long as they follow a great cocktail recipe and know a few simple techniques.

To begin, equip your home bar with good, basic equipment. Each of these is vital to making a decent cocktail: a jigger to measure out the ingredients (even pros have a hard time eye-balling measurements for a cocktail), a bar spoon, a hawthorn strainer (for shaken drinks), a julep strainer (for stirred drinks), and a good quality shaker. Cobbler shakers are good for beginners, while Boston shakers are usually preferred among pros.

Next, think about ingredients. Buy at least medium-grade alcohol. This will improve your cocktails immensely. When using fruit juice, use the freshest you can find. Especially when using lime or lemon juice, squeeze it yourself. Bottled lemon and lime juice taste nothing like fresh-squeezed.

You might think ice is ice, but the wrong ice can ruin a drink. Only use ice that’s truly cold. The ice should not be melting and it shouldn’t have been in the freezer for more than a few weeks. It’s best not to store the ice next to foods, since it will absorb their flavor. Never reuse ice; toss it out after using it once.

To make your own sugar syrup, mix equal parts of sugar and water. Heat the mixture in a saucepan until the sugar is entirely dissolved. Allow it to cool before using. For sweeter drinks, you can double the amount of sugar.

Generally speaking, most cocktail ingredients should be used in this order: sugar, ice, liquor, mix, and carbonated soda.

Cocktails with difficult to blend ingredients should be shaken. When shaking a cocktail, use no fewer than three and no more than six medium-sized ice cubes. Don’t use crushed ice, because it will over-dilute the drink. Place the ice in the shaker and add other ingredients in the order of alcohol content (with the highest alcohol content going in first). Hold the cocktail shaker in both hands, in between your shoulders, and shake hard and horizontally for between 10 and 20 seconds, unless the recipe specifies otherwise.

Cocktails made only from liquids should be stirred. When stirring, use a glass or metal mixing rod (or “swizzle stick”). Use a mixing glass, then strain the cocktail into a serving glass. As with stirring, don’t use crushed ice. When you see water condensation on the outside of the glass, the cocktail is properly stirred.

Most cocktails should be served in chilled glasses because icy coldness helps the drink taste less alcoholic and – at least to most people – more palatable. In fact, be sure you don’t use such large glasses that by the time the drinker is finishing his or her drink, the cocktail is warm. Smaller glasses are best.

And if you’re tempted to think any glass will work, think again. The right glass enhances the cocktail’s flavor. Mixed drinks such as Long Island and gin and tonic should be served in tall, straight-sided glasses called “highballs.” Cocktails with juice generally should be served in tall, skinny Collins glasses that keep the cocktails colder longer. Coupette glasses, with a broad rim, are best for daiquiris and margaritas. Anything “on the rocks” goes in an “old-fashioned” or “rocks glass.” Martini glasses are suitable for any shaken and strained cocktail; their unique shape helps prevent the ingredients from separating.

Enjoy!

 Las Vegas Most Outrageous Cocktails

Whether you’re celebrating your big wins at the Craps table, or drowning in your sorrows after losing your house on Blackjack, Las Vegas has a drink that’s perfect for you. Make sure to bring your American Express though, some of the world’s most expensive cocktails can be found on the Las Vegas strip. From whimsical to decadent, here’s a top 10 list of Las Vegas’ Most extravagant and expensive Cocktails…

10.) Warp Core Breach – $29.50

Star Trek fans will this themed drink made to resemble something that might be ordered on Deep Space 9. Made at Quark’s Bar in the Las Vegas Hilton this $29.50 drink has enough punch to make a Klingon dizzy. Made with 10 ounces of liquor from five different-flavored rums, Razzmatazz and fruit juices this drink is big enough to share. The drink comes in a Star Trek-like glass and a little dry ice ads to the ambiance by making this concoction bubble over and smoke.

9.) Goddess Elixir Margarita – $99

From a place a little more down to earth but just across the border comes the next most extravagant cocktail, the Goddess Elixir available at Isla Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar in Treasure Island. This drink which is assembled table-side by your very own Tequila Goddess, is big enough to share with 3 of your closest friends. The Goddess Elixir comes with big chunks of pineapple and citrus buoyed by Herradura Selección Suprema, 100-year old Grand Marnier Centenaire, Cointreau and fresh citrus syrup.

8.) Liquid Gold – $175

Fleur de Lys in Mandalay Bay offers Liquid Gold by the ounce for $175. Made with Grand Marnier Centenaire, Louis XIII Cognac, Krug Grand Cru Champagne, Fee Brothers West Indian Orange Bitters and raw sugar garnished with 23-karat gold leafing and a burnt orange twist.

7.) Seablue Martini – $275

What’s Las Vegas without martinis? The Seablue Restaurant at the MGM Grand has one of the best martinis in Vegas. Made with super-premium vodka and Beluga caviar this drink carries a price tag of $275.

6.) Gotham Martini & High Roller Martini – $1,000

In order to order this drink, you really have to be doing well at the progressive slots. The Capital Grille at the Fashion Show Mall serves drinks made just for High Rollers. Each of these $1000 martinis come paired with a piece of Lagos jewelry. The Gotham Martini comes with a strand of pearls. The High Roller, named for the Vegas Strip, includes a diamond pave ring. For each cocktail sold, about $500 goes to Share our Strength, a charity that battles hunger around the globe. No word on what sorts of liquor are used to make these drinks, but it seems the value is really in the jewelry and the feeling of giving to a good cause.

5.) King Richard’s Pride – $1,000

In Vegas why not be treated like royalty? King Richard’s Pride is a $1,000 a drink consisting of Hennessy Richard, Dom Perignon Rosé 1996 and Chambord Liqueur Royale de France, splashes of lime and cranberry juices and one orange slice, all served in a keepsake Baccarat cocktail glass. BOA is located at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.

4.) The Presidential – $1,000

The Body English Nightclub at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino features a $1,000 martini called The Presidential. This drink includes Remy Martin Louis XIII cognac and Dom Perignon champagne.

3.) Duvet Passion – $1,500

The Seablue Restaurant at the MGM Grand also has the 4th most expensive cocktail. The Duvet Passion featuring a mix of rare aged cognacs and a mix of rare vintage champagnes garnished with a vanilla orchid petal can be purchased for a mere $1500. This passionate drink which was introduced on Valentine’s Day in 2005, is sure to get you some love.

2.) High Limit Kir Royale – $2,200

Also at the MGM Grand, you can double down on the High Limit Kir Royale. This $2200 libation is only available at The Teatro Euro Bar. Louis Roederer Cristal Rose champagne, Hardy Perfection cognac, Grand Marnier Cent Cinquantenaire and fresh muddled raspberries go into making this extravagant cocktail.

1.) Ménage a Trois – $3,000

If you’re feeling a little frisky why not order a Ménage a Trois at Tryst at the 5 Diamond Award-winning Wynn Hotel. This sexy cocktail is made with Cristal Rosé, Hennessy Ellipse and Grand Marnier Cent-cinquantenaire. 23-karat gold flakes and liquid gold syrup decorate this decadent cocktail. For $3,000 you can sip this drink through a golden straw studded with a 9-point diamond — yours to keep of course.

Wondering what was the most expensive drink ever sold in Vegas? The most expensive Vegas Cocktail was served by Master Mixologist Francesco Lafranconi at Wolfgang Puck’s Postrio on May 7th, 2003 . This drink which was sold at live auction for $8,000 to benefit Alzheimer’s Research during “One Cool Night”, was served in a Christofle Limited Edition Cocktail Glass by Adam D. Tihany. This outrageous cocktail was made up of a delicious blend of Hennessy Timeless harmoniously combined with Grand Marnier 150th Anniversary liqueur, topped with Dom Perignon Oenotheque 1973 vintage, garnished with 22-karat gold leaves, and stirred with a diamond swizzle. Unfortunately, this drink was a one-time deal, although if you’re looking to spend $8,000 for a drink be sure to ask your Maitre`di. In Las Vegas I’m sure they will be able to accommodate you.

Cocktails are a favorite in nightclubs, bars and cocktail lounges all over the United States. They’re generally the first choice of both men and women desiring a drink and bartenders have to make them many times during the day.

Martini, Manhattan, Tequila Sunrise, Margarita, belong to the list of 10 most popular cocktails in US bars and nightclubs, together with Long Island Iced Tea, Cosmopolitan, The Mint Julep, Daquiri, Mojito, and Piña Colada.
Have a look at these cocktails and select your choice.

Martini is one of the finest of all classic cocktails and everyone would agree that it’s a time-honored favorite. It’s one drink that offers you lots of choices from chocolate Martini to Apple Martini. A Martini can be prepared in different styles such as you can put a little vermouth or none at all, you can either shake or mix it and you can top it with a lime or olive.

Manhattan is one of the aged cocktails and its fame continued throughout the years. It’s typically preferred before dinner and goes well with gourmet food like the Tuna Nicoise. The Manhattan was the very first cocktail that had vermouth as a modifier. Bartenders get asked to create Manhattan again and again.

The Tequila Sunrise is labeled for the way it appears in a glass – the solid parts of orange and grenadine drop thus producing nice color changes like that of a sunrise. The grenadine is the element that intensifies the sweet taste of this cocktail and as you draw close to finishing your drink, the sweetness becomes more obvious.

Margarita is standing tall as North America’s one of the most desired cocktail drinks. It’s a revitalizing, tequila based drink blended with Cointreau. You can vary the way you prepare margarita as it can be mixed with fresh tropical fruits or served frozen, on the rocks or with sugar or salt on your glass’s brim.

Long Island Iced Tea is an ageless highball drink that should be imbibed bit by bit and savored for an extended time. Robert Butt, a bartender from Long Island served the first concoction of this kind. Long Island Iced Tea is made up of little amount of tequila, vodka, gin, rum, triple sec plus soda to add in color.

Cosmopolitan is created by combining citrus juice, vodka, Cointreau (sweetener) and a little cranberry juice to produce a light red color and enhance sourness. As Carrie Bradshaw’s chosen drink during much of the show, Sex and the City, the Cosmo has grown to be one of the most liked cocktails in lounges and parties.

The Mint Julep’s recognition originated from Virginia, USA where numerous mint leaves are blended with a little amount of water and sugar to release the mint flavor and then added to Bourbon and ice. You can avail of several assortments of this cocktail that has become a part of the menu of many American bars.

The Daiquiri is a tropical drink that’s produced by blending light Rum, sugar syrup and fresh fruits. It’s believed to stem from Cuba in 1800′s and was intended as a treatment for malaria. Now it’s a favorite of many thanks to writer Ernest Hemingway who turned daiquiri into becoming popular all over the world.

Mojito is a tropical cocktail that’s Rum based too. It made its way to become one the most famous drinks throughout the country. Mojito is Hemmingway’s preferred drink next to the Daquiri. For a great tasting Mojito, opt for the finest rum such as Mount Gay.

Piña Colada is another sweet-tasting drink and one of the creamiest. Made with pineapple juice, coco cream and light rum, Piña coladas are normally served either shaken with crushed ice or blended. Many individuals have heard and have actually tasted this cocktail. Rupert Holmes made Piña colada well-known through his song Escape (The Pina Colada song).

Where did the name Cocktail come from?

There are as many stories behind the origin of the name Cocktail as there are behind the creation of the Margarita or the Martini. As always, some are preposterous, some believable and who knows, one may be the truth. None the less, the stories are interesting.

•A popular story behind the Cocktail name refers to a rooster’s tail (or cock tail) being used as a Colonial drink garnish. There are no formal references in recipe to such a garnish.

•In the story in The Spy (James Fenimore Cooper, 1821) the character “Betty Flanagan” invented the Cocktail during the Revolution. “Betty” may have referred to a real-life innkeeper at Four Corners north of New York City by the name of Catherine “Kitty” Hustler. Betty took on another non-fiction face, that of Betsy Flanagan. Betsy likely not a real woman though, but the story says she was a tavern keeper who served French soldiers in 1779 a drink garnished with tail feathers of her neighbor’s rooster. We can assume that Kitty inspired Betty and Betty inspired Betsy, but whether or not one of the three are responsible for the Cocktail is a mystery.

•The rooster theory is also said to have been influenced by the colors of the mixed ingredients, which may resemble the colors of the cock’s tail. This would be a good tale today given our colorful array of ingredients, but at the time spirits were visually bland.

•The British publication, Bartender, published a story in 1936 of English sailors, of decades before, being served mixed drinks in Mexico. The drinks were stirred with a Cola de Gallo (Cock’s tail), a long root of similar shape to the bird’s tail.

•Another Cocktail story refers to the leftovers of a cask of ale, called cock tailings. The cock tailings from various spirits would be mixed together and sold at a lower priced mixed beverage of questionable integrity.

•Yet another unappetizing origin tells of a cock ale, a mash of ale mixed with whatever was available to be fed to fighting cocks.

•Cocktail may have derived from the French term for egg cup, coquetel. One story that brought this reference to America speaks of Antoine Amedie Peychaud of New Orleans who mixed his Peychaud bitters into a stomach remedy served in a coquetel. Not all of Peychaud’s customers could pronounce the word and it became known as Cocktail. This story doesn’t add up because of conflicting dates.

•The word Cocktail may be a distant derivation of the name for the Aztec goddess, Xochitl. Xochitl was also the name of a Mexican princess who served drinks to American soldiers.

•It was an 18th and 19th century custom to dock draft horses’ tales. This caused the tales to stick up like a cocks tail. As the story goes, a reader’s letter to the balance explains that when drunk these Cocktails made you cock your tail up in the same manner.

•Another horse tail supposes the influence of breeders term for a mix breed horse, or cock-tails. Both racing and drinking were popular among the majority of Americans at the time and it’s possible the term transferred from mixed breeds to mixed drinks.

•There’s a quirky story of an American tavern keeper who stored alcohol in a ceramic, rooster-shaped container. When patrons wanted another round they tapped the rooster’s tail.

•In George Bishop’s The Booze Reader: A Soggy Saga of Man in His Cups (1965) he says, “The word itself stems from the English cock-tail which, in the middle 1800′s, referred to a woman of easy virtue who was desirable but impure…and applied to the newly acquired American habit of bastardizing good British Gin with foreign matter, including ice.”

Source: By Colleen Graham, About.com

The official definition of a Cocktail according to the modern Merriam-Webster Dictionary is “an iced drink of wine or distilled liquor mixed with flavoring ingredients.” That’s a pretty broad definition, but reflects the modern practice of referring to almost any mixed drink as a Cocktail. The first published definition of the Cocktail appeared in an editorial response in The Balance and Columbian Repository of 1806. This read: “Cocktail is a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water and bitters It is this definition of ingredients that still refers to the “ideal cocktail.”

When was the cocktail created?
People have been mixing drinks for centuries but it wasn’t until the 17th and 18th centuries that the precursors of the Cocktail (the Slings, Fizzes, Toddies and Juleps) became popular enough to be recorded in history. It’s unclear where, who, and what went into the creation of the original Cocktail, but it seems to be a specific drink rather than a category of mixed drinks during that time.
The first published reference to the Cocktail appears in the Farmer’s Cabinet (Amherst, New Hampshire, April 28, 1803). The spoof editorial tells of a “lounger” who, with an 11 a.m. hangover, “…Drank a glass of cocktail – excellent for the head…” In Imbibe!, David Wondrich attributes the first known Cocktail recipe in print to Captain J.E. Alexander in 1831 who calls for brandy, gin or rum in a mix of “…a third of the spirit to two-thirds of the water; add bitters, and enrich with sugar and nutmeg…”

to be continued…