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Origin of the Word 'Cocktail'

Source www.bbcgoodfood.com

If you are a booze lover then you must be aware of the millions of cocktails there are but do you know the origin of the word cocktail? According to some, cocktail is a horse with a clipped short tail which were racehorses without thoroughbred pedigrees, they were mixed breeds therefore it is believed that the term cocktail comes from mixing different spirits like the mixed breed horses. The word cocktail was first published in the 'Oxford English Dictionary' on May 13, 1806 stating that it is a 'stimulating liquor composed of spirits of any kind- sugar, water and bitters'.

There are others theories about the origin of the word 'cocktail'

  • The cocktail comes from a rooster's tail which was served as a Colonial drink once
  • A famous novel by James Fenimore Cooper has a spy named Betty Flanagan who supposedly invented cocktail during the Revolution.
  • Another story says that an American tavern keeper used to store alcohol in a ceramic, rooster shaped containers and patrons used to tap the rooster's tail when they wanted more drink, therefore the cocktail.
  • Some say the name of the Aztec goddess, Xochitl meaning flower inspired the name cocktail or one of the Mexican princess was called Xochitl who served drinks to American soldiers hence the drink was called a cocktail.

So, you see there are tons of stories behind how the word cocktail became but since we love cocktails we sometimes wonder how our favourite cocktails got their names.  Who invented them and how they came into being.  Here are some stories that might ease your curious mind for now.

How Different Cocktails Got Their Names

Source www.youtube.com

So, next time when you take a sip of your favourite cocktail with your friends ask them where the drink got its signature name. Most of them would be able to tell you the ingredients but only a few will tell you the origin of the drink. So, drink and get smarter people.

Sex on the Beach

Source www.bbcgoodfood.com

You might not like the taste of this drink but saying the name out loud sends a chill down a person's spine.  Sex on the Beach is made with peach schnapps, vodka, orange juice, pineapple and cranberry juice.  It is a popular drink and there are a dozen different stories of how it got the name.

After an announcement of a contest a bartender, Ted Pizio in Florida used schnapps to make this cool drink and figured that "sex" and "beach" are the two major reasons why people came to Florida each year and decided to call the drink, Sex on the Beach.  Most of the people believe this story but historians have found examples of this concoction in recipe books from 1982 therefore they feel that it was created earlier than this story.

Mojito

Source www.gordonramsayrestaurants.com

A classic cocktail with white rum, sugar, lime juice, soda water and spearmint is loved by all. Although it has low alcohol content buys it is quite popular.  According to the 'Oxford English Dictionary,' the name comes from mojo, a Spanish name for a Cuban sauce made with citrus fruit.  

Another story says that Mojito was created by African slaves while they worked in the fields of Cuba.  The name Mojito comes from the word 'mojo' which means 'to cast a spell'.

Bloody Mary

Source www.liquor.com

Another great tasting cocktail, the Bloody Mary has millions of fans. It is said that Harry's bartender 'Pete' experimented with drinks mixed with vodka in 1920. He mixed Worcestershire, black pepper and lemon and gave birth to Bloody Mary. Some say that the drink got its name after Queen Mary Tudor and her violent reign over England in the 16th century but Esquire says that entertainer George Jessel gave this name after her friend Mary Geraghty in 1934 ad.

Daiquiri

Source www.thespruceeats.com

Like other cocktails, the Daiquiri also has many stories behind how it got its name. According to one legend an American mining engineer, Jennings Cox started mixing rum with crushed ice, lime juice and some sugar and called it the Daiquiri which was also the name of a small town near Santiago, Cuba.

Another one says that later Jennings Cox's granddaughter says that the drink was invented by Cox for his American guests. He did not have a gin and did not want to use dry rum so he added these ingredients to make it.
.

Margarita

Source www.liquor.com

Most people think that Margarita is a Mexican cocktail but the legends say that Carlos Herra, the owner of Tijuana restaurant invented it in 1938 for one of his dancers who was allergic to all spirits but tequila.  Another story says that Dallas socialite, Margarita Sames created the concocted drink for her friends during a vacation in Acapulco in 1948. Her, friend, Tommy Hilton put the recipe for the menu of the Hilton hotel chain and rest is history.  

The margarita is often hailed as the quintessential “Mexican” cocktail, but just like Cerveza, the origins of the drink are not definitively Mexican. Simply put, no one knows who dreamed up this delicious cocktail – but the stories behind the invention of the margarita are pretty colourful, even though only some of them actually take place in Mexico.

The Manhattan

Source www.liquor.com

There are many stories about the origin of The Manhattan but the most prominent one is that in early 1880s Dr. Iain Marshall created it at the Manhattan Club, New York, with Lady Randolph Churchill but it is said that during that time she was pregnant with Winston Churchill, therefore, she was in England not partying in New York.  Some say that a man named, Black created it at the Hoffman House in New York.  Whatever the story is The Manhattan Club claims to be the owner of the recipe and it is one of the most ordered cocktails in the world.

Mimosa

Source www.allrecipes.com

It is believed that the drink, Buck's Fizz was invented in 1921 in London using champagne and orange juice; it has larger quantity of wine in it and in 1925 a bartender at Ritz in Paris created Mimosa using equal parts sparkling wine and juice. Some say that director Alfred Hitchcock invented Mimosa in 1940s.

Piña Colada

Source www.foodnetwork.com

Pina Colada is probably the most popular drink and was born in Puerto Rico. A luxury hotel in San Juan called The Caribe Hilton claims to serve this drink in 1954. It is believed that it took three months of experimenting with tons on combinations to invent a perfect mix of rum, cream of coconut and pineapple juice. Another bartender from the same hotel stated that due to the strike by coconut cutters union in 1954 he decided to serve the mix of rum, cream of coconut and crushed ice in a hollowed-out pine which was name Pina Colada meaning 'strained pineapple'



5 Tips for Making Best Cocktails at Home

Source craftybartending.com

”What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” (Quote from Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare), therefore, let’s not worry about where these famous cocktails got their names because if you know how to make them perfectly they would all taste wonderful regardless on the stories behind them.

  • Don't wait for the last minute to make a cocktail. Relax and enjoy making a mix, prepare the ingredients in advance.
  • Don't go for cheap liquor. Liquor is what gives a cocktail its taste. Don't go for the most expensive once either just look for mid range liquor to make a perfect cocktail. .
  • Always use fresh ingredients. You can buy juices, simple syrup etc but if you make them at home you will see the difference in the taste. Don't use frozen fruits for garnish always use fresh ones for a great tasting cocktail. .
  • Don't go crazy over gadgets. Simple mixing glass and spoon, a shaker and a strainer would help you make a great cocktail. Always use a jigger to measure your pour for perfection. .
  • People overlook ice when making cocktails at home but ice makes a whole lot of difference. Ice is to cocktails like baking is to ovens so have plenty of ice in your freezer before a party..

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Use Ratios While Mixing

Use a 1:1:3 ratio with alcohol to flavouring (100% juice) to seltzer/low-calorie liquid. Making sure you’re not adding more than 1 shot of alcohol to your mixed drinks will keep you from getting super dehydrated (which means no hangover!) or adding unnecessary calories. Mix well and enjoy your drink remaining sober.