Try our delicious cocktail recipes for every occasion. If you're looking to impress without the faff, try our easy cocktail recipes. Or, if you don't drink alcohol, we have you covered with our thirst-quenching non-alcoholic drink recipes.
A cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink. Most commonly, cocktails are either a single spirit or a combination of spirits mixed with other ingredients, such as juices, flavored syrups, tonic water, shrubs, and bitters. Cocktails vary widely across regions of the world, and many websites publish both original recipes and their own interpretations of older and more famous cocktails.[1][2][3]
The origins of the word "cocktail" have been debated (see section Etymology). The first written mention of "cocktail" as a beverage appeared in The Farmers Cabinet, 1803, in the United States. The first definition of a cocktail as an alcoholic beverage appeared three years later in The Balance and Columbian Repository (Hudson, New York) May 13, 1806.[4] Traditionally, cocktail ingredients included spirits, sugar, water and bitters;[5] however, this definition evolved throughout the 1800s to include the addition of a liqueur.[6][5]
In 1862, Jerry Thomas published a bartender's guide called How to Mix Drinks; or, The Bon Vivant's Companion which included 10 cocktail recipes using bitters, to differentiate from other drinks such as punches and cobblers.
In the modern world and the Information Age, cocktail recipes are widely shared online on websites. Cocktails and restaurants that serve them are frequently covered and reviewed in tourism magazines and guides.[9][10] Some cocktails, such as the Mojito, Manhattan, and Martini, have become staples in restaurants[11] and pop culture.
The Oxford English Dictionary cites the word as originating in the U.S. The first recorded use of cocktail as a beverage (possibly non-alcoholic) in the United States appears in The Farmer's Cabinet, April 28, 1803:[15]
The first definition of cocktail known to be an alcoholic beverage appeared in The Balance and Columbian Repository (Hudson, New York) May 13, 1806; editor Harry Croswell answered the question, "What is a cocktail?":
It was customary to dock the tails of horses that were not thoroughbred [...] They were called cocktailed horses, later simply cocktails. By extension, the word cocktail was applied to a vulgar, ill-bred person raised above his station, assuming the position of a gentleman but deficient in gentlemanly breeding. [...] Of importance [in the 1806 citation above] is [...] the mention of water as an ingredient. [...] Låftman concluded that cocktail was an acceptable alcoholic drink, but diluted, not a "purebred", a thing "raised above its station". Hence the highly appropriate slang word used earlier about inferior horses and sham gentlemen.
Cocktail historian David Wondrich also speculates that "cocktail" is a reference to gingering, a practice for perking up an old horse by means of a ginger suppository so that the animal would "cock its tail up and be frisky."[19]
There is a lack of clarity on the origins of cocktails.[23] Traditionally cocktails were a mixture of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters.[5] By the 1860s, however, a cocktail frequently included a liqueur.[6][5]
The ingredients listed (spirits, sugar, water, and bitters) match the ingredients of an Old Fashioned,[25] which originated as a term used by late 19th-century bar patrons to distinguish cocktails made the "old-fashioned" way from newer, more complex cocktails.[15]
The first "cocktail party" ever thrown was allegedly by Julius S. Walsh Jr. of St. Louis, Missouri, in May 1917. Walsh invited 50 guests to her home at noon on a Sunday. The party lasted an hour until lunch was served at 1 p.m. The site of this first cocktail party still stands. In 1924, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis bought the Walsh mansion at 4510 Lindell Boulevard, and it has served as the local archbishop's residence ever since.[29]
Cocktails became less popular in the late 1960s and through the 1970s, until resurging in the 1980s with vodka often substituting for the original gin in drinks such as the martini. Traditional cocktails began to make a comeback in the 2000s,[33] and by the mid-2000s there was a renaissance of cocktail culture in a style typically referred to as mixology that draws on traditional cocktails for inspiration but uses novel ingredients and often complex flavors.[7]
The drink is simply vodka and Campari stirred together with pomegranate juice, orange liqueur, and lime juice. Originally the drink called for Chambord, but Campari has warmth with cinnamon and cloves, it sounded great for this mix. The Campari gives the cocktail a special touch with its sweetness, and hints of orange, cinnamon, and cloves. Such a unique, but delicious combination!
The Cocktail Guru builds awareness for beverage brands of all sizes. From bartender education, cocktail development, consumer and trade events, marketing and concept development, brand ambassadorship, to press relations.
Cocktail Bitters are a flavorful infusion of Spices, Fruit Peel, and Bitter Roots. Traditionally used by the dash-full in classic cocktails, bitters share their origin with herbal remedies and cure-alls found today in alternative medicine. Behind the bar, they are a bartender's spice cabinet and used creatively to counterbalance notes of tart and sweet. And, now, for the first time, Hella Bitters & Soda is the sparkling non-alcoholic aperitif made with craft cocktail bitters.
Learn about this classic gin cocktail, which is a throwback from an era when airplanes were brand new and hospitality was paramount. Our Aviation cocktail is made with Larios, a vibrant and bright Mediterranean-style Gin. Classic flavors of cherry, lemon and violet are blended to create a flavorful and distinctive profile.
Classes are offered on the first Thursday of each month at 6 PM. $125 per person includes admission to the Smith Tower Visitor Experience on the date of the class, buffet-style charcuterie appetizers, guided demonstration for creating four signature cocktails, plus all equipment and ingredients used to craft the featured cocktails.
Strong beverage programs are built on a foundation of great care. Our team will work with your bar or restaurant to comprise a beverage program and cocktail lists that can be easily facilitated by any employee. We demonstrate how quality cocktails with fresh ingredients will actually cut costs and we understand how to make great cocktails without sacrificing efficiency. Snake Oil cocktails are designed to stick!
Visit seven Downtown Tupelo locations and enjoy delicious, local artisan cocktails. Pick up your cocktail card at the Tupelo Visitors Center or at each participating restaurant. Once you've completed all seven stops on the Cocktail Trail, redeem your card at the Tupelo Visitors Center for a FREE #MyTupelo cocktail shaker.
The cocktail list features signature classics and old favourites, from 'Thank you your Majesty' paying tribute to the King, to 'The Goring Cup' incorporating liqueurs and spirits from fellow Royal Warrant holders.
The interior design has been led by the inimitable Russell Sage and with a grand piano taking pride of place, the resident pianist provides fabulous live entertainment. With the roaring fire in the winter and its beautiful garden in the summer, The Goring Cocktail Bar is a year-round destination in itself. Located in fashionable Belgravia and just a five minute walk from Victoria, The Goring Cocktail Bar is a place to enjoy sophisticated and tempting cocktails late into the night.
Totally relaxed, but classy place to eat as well as enjoy and top notch cocktail and a perfectly matched cigar! Chic décor Friendly bartenders Fun atmosphere Stylish interior Great food Romantic atmosphere Hip atmosphere Creative cocktails Great value
This whiskey sour has become a family favorite: so much so that it now appears at all our extended family gatherings. This cocktail recipe is so classic and tasty, our family has been making it for years. We hope it becomes a family favorite in yours! Also try: Boston Sour.
Ready for one of the easiest cocktails with the best flavor? It's a classic daiquiri. Yes, a classic daiquiri isn't frozen at all: it's made of lime, rum and simple syrup. And let us tell you: it is so, so delicious! One of our best easy alcoholic drinks to make at home, here's the simple formula for a classic daiquiri that you can memorize.
One of the most stunning and complex cocktail recipes is the New York Sour! First you have the whiskey sour layer: sweet tart and perfectly balanced, sweetened with maple for some nuance. Then float a layer of red wine over the top and it adds intrigue, complexity and a fruity acidity. Not to mention it looks simply stunning with the bright two-toned layer. A favorite!
Enjoy world-class drinks at one of the best cocktail bars in Minneapolis. Located in the Historic Thorp building in the heart of Northeast, sip original craft cocktails and classics with your friends and family at our iconic bar under a picture-perfect antique chandelier.
Opened on New Year's Eve 2006 in Manhattan's East Village, Death & Co quickly became a cocktail institution, owed greatly to our staff of creative bartenders and incredible servers. Since then, we have evolved and changed from an intimate bar in NYC to an ever-growing family of bars in NYC, Denver, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. Throughout this growth, we've maintained our commitment to fine products and exceptional experiences, a focus on hospitality, and a deep desire to be a center for our communities.
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