It's hard to tell when the first cocktail was made. The first cocktail guide was published in the 1800s, but the idea of cocktails has been around for centuries. But what is it, and what does it mean? All questions will be answered in this blog post by yours truly – Tequila Travesuras.
Mixology has been around since the beginning of time. Ever since the emergence of spirits and liqueurs, people have mixed them with various ingredients to create flavorful drinks—today, cocktails are a beloved take on drinking alcohol, be it a glass of infused tequila or vodka.
What Is a Cocktail?
Cocktail is a style of mixed alcoholic drink. It can be one spirit fused with other ingredients like flavored syrup, fruit juice, or a combination of two or more spirits for an extra punch.
In the early 1800s, a cocktail meant only one thing: a mixed drink containing liquor, sugar, and bitters. With time, newer ingredients were introduced and added to the existing recipes, and they were still called cocktails. A century later, the definition of cocktails expanded, and every mixed drink prepared in a shaker became a cocktail.
Today, cocktails are any drink that combines liquor with other ingredients (excluding water and garnishes), irrespective of the preparation or ingredients.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a cocktail as an iced drink of wine or distilled liquor mixed with flavoring ingredients.
Where Does the Word Cocktail Come From?
The word cocktail has a somewhat mysterious and debated origin. However, here are the most popular theories:
The "Cock Tail" Theory
In the 18th and 19th centuries, a "cock-tailed" horse referred to a mixed-breed horse with a docked tail that stood up like a rooster's (cock's) tail. They weren't purebred, and the word cock-tail started meaning mixed—just like how a mixed drink is a cocktail.
First Written Use (1806)
The first recorded definition of a cocktail appeared in The Balance and Columbian Repository (a New York newspaper) in 1806:
"Cocktail is a stimulating liquor composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters."
This is essentially what we now know as an old-fashioned!
Other Fun Theories:
Rooster feathers: Some say drinks were stirred or garnished with a rooster's (cock's) feather.
French origin: Some link it to the French term coquetier (pronounced "cocktay"), which means eggcup. A New Orleans apothecary supposedly served brandy mixtures in these eggcups.
Nobody knows for sure where this word came from, but the next time your friend orders a cocktail hit 'em with the history. It's not just a simple drink—it's got swagger, mystery, and maybe even a little horse hair in its past.
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What Are the Different Cocktail Types?
Since we looked into the definition and history of the word cocktail, we cannot just stop there, can we? If you're interested in cocktails, you should know how to make unique ones. When you can create your own mix, you will be unmatched in the world of mixology. Check this out:
Short Cocktails
The most glorious cocktails come in rock glasses as stirred or shaken drinks. They contain liquor and a mixer with garnish. Some fine examples would be the popular Noche Triste, Down by Law, and Tequila Martini.
Highball Cocktails
Highball cocktails represent their name well—tall, elegant, and traditional. They contain only two ingredients with a mixer. If you pair liquor and soda, it becomes a highball. You can make a highball Margarita or Paloma as potent as you want it to be.
Blended Cocktails
You may need specialized equipment to make a blended cocktail. Frozen cocktails like Frozen Tequila Sunrise or the popular Frozen Margarita fall into this category. Even hybrid cocktails are blended, which take classic recipes and add a frozen or shaken twist.
Hot Cocktails
Hot cocktails are a different game. Spicy Tequila Hot Toddy made with the Travesuras Spicy Mango is a super-fine example of this category. They are best enjoyed as winter drinks as they can really bring in the heat.
People have been mixing drinks for ages to make something unique to their liking or make their first liquor experience more palatable. It's just that they thought of recording the idea of mixing in the 18th century. We'll never know who did it first or where it came from, but it's evident that drinking wouldn't be as fun as it is without sipping on delicious watermelon tequila cocktails at a bar or home.
Must Read: Where Does Tequila Come From?
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