Thats the accepted definition of ingredients used today when referring to the ideal cocktail. There are dozens of interpretation and funny anecdotes about the origin of this magic word. Spirits historian david wondrich explores the origins of mixed drinks and. Cocktail definition, any of various short mixed drinks, consisting typically of gin, whiskey, rum, vodka, or brandy, with different admixtures, as vermouth, fruit juices, or flavorings, usually chilled and frequently sweetened. An evocative origin of the word cocktail comes from the term cockale, a heady mixture of spirits fed to fighting cocks in the 18th century to inflame them. The first recorded use was in 1803s the farmers cabinet, and the first definition. Synonyms for cocktail at with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions. Jun 02, 2007 it was said, that the quality was especially high the day after english sailors had been visiting, as there was a good mixture of rum, gin and brandy in the cocktail. Some american and french soldiers had a party there one day, and eventually one soldier toasted on betsy. Discover your kind of drink with cocktail flow for windows 8. A classic egg cup, the french word for which was once thought to be the. The first recorded use of the word cocktail was in 1806, and it is fairly accepted that it is of american origin. Origin of the word cocktail for an alcoholic drink today i found out.
With cocktail flow, you can now take on the task of mixing cocktails and finding out new drinks to taste and enjoy right with the help of your windows 8 computer. In the marchapril 09 issue, imbibe columnist ted haigh delves into the origins of the word cocktail and finds some fascinating history. Cocktail history an article about the origin of cocktails. Apparently, a new orleans apothecary and inventor of peychaud. But certainly by 1806, the word was being used with its current meaning. A cocktail is an alcoholic drink which contains several ingredients. Below are scans of two of the earliestknown published mentions of the word, along with haighs notes on the scans. The last word is a ginbased prohibitionera cocktail originally developed at the detroit athletic club. Apparently, a new orleans apothecary and inventor of peychaud bitters, antoine amedee. Unfortunately for this story, the word cocktail had been in use for approximately 40 years before the mexican war, although a similar theory claiming mexican origin at least gets the date right, attributing cocktail to a diplomatic young aztec woman named coctel who in the early 1800s avoided a social faux pas by chugging a drink. The first recorded use was in 1803s the farmers cabinet, and the first definition appeared in print in may of 1806 in a new york newspaper.
The word is of american origin, and there are several competing theories about its etymology. Etymology of cocktails and spirits alta language services. Top synonyms for cocktail party other words for cocktail party are party, cocktail and drink. A cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink thats usually served in a short glass. Cocktails synonyms, antonyms, and related words and phrases cambridge american english thesaurus. English for beginners practical english travel english telephone english banking english accounting english dictionary. Cocktail is an interesting word with an obscure origin. There are plenty of theories found in old cocktail books and magazines.
Synonyms for cocktails include soiree, affair, amusement, athome, ball, banquet, barbecue, bash, blowout and carousal. Official cocktail history starts around the beginning of the 19th century. It is a powerful digital toolset that helps hundreds of thousands of mac users around the world get the most out of their computers every day. One source states that there are 50 explanations of the word cocktail. Spirits historian david wondrich digs into just how mixed drinks came to be called cocktails. I thought they used to decorate a drink with an actual feather. Another popular story comes from new orleans, where an apothecary by the name of peychaud of bitters fame served a mixed brandy drink in a. Colleen graham is a cocktail expert, professional bartender, and cookbook author with over 10 years of experience in the foodwriting world. The real history maybe of how the cocktail got its name. Synonyms for cocktail include blend, combination, mixture, compound, mix, admixture, amalgamation, melange, alloy and amalgam. Well, as i was researching through some archives of old newspapers, i came across a couple of articles discussing the origin of the word cocktail. While searching the origin of the term, wondrich found that cocktail was a nickname for a beverage called ginger. Well, as of april 7, theres a second edition of wondrichs mustread book.
This is one of those words with several possible origins. It is a powerful digital toolset that helps hundreds of thousands of mac users around the world. It is said in the 1800s the word eventually became slurred to cocktail. I have heard of a forum, of phlegmcutter and fog driver, of wetting the whistle. Can anyone give me the derivation of the word cocktail. In the may th edition of the newspaper, balance and columbian repository, the editor defined a cocktail as a stimulating liquor composed of spirits of any kind sugar, water, and bitters. This app features hundred of cocktail recipes, bartender guides and more.
The bartender actually credited with resuscitating the drink is seattles famous murray stenson who, cocktail fans, has recently retired from the zig zag. There are as many proposed origins for the word as there are girliedrinks in a fern bar. In this application, we have all cocktail that you will ever need. The scented glass has given way to a classic glass that supports the cocktail and gives it respect. The first known printed use of the word cocktail was in 1803 in an article in the farmers cabinet amherst, new hampshire, april 28, 1803. A cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink, which is either a combination of spirits, or one or more spirits mixed with other ingredients such as fruit juice, flavored syrup, or cream. Investigating the word cocktail and the history of the drink. Which application software can be used to format oblique heading. Mencken lists seven versions of its origin, perhaps the most durable traces it to french coquetier eggcup 15c in english cocktay. Mar 18, 2016 cocktail flow is the perfect option if you have a limited selection of booze and need some inspiration for drinks you can make with just what you have. Sazerac cocktail at the sazerac bar wikimedia commons. Apr 06, 20 last word has a story of multiple appearances, followed by lengthy lapses in time, where the cocktail essentially vanished, only to resurface again decades later.
Cocktail history a brief look into the history of cocktails. I did on the web before answering this question, the term cocktail arose in the. According to the oxford english dictionary, the earliest definition of the word appeared in the may, 1806, edition of balance and columbian repository, a federalist newspaper in hudson, new york. This topic has been debated a lot and nobody really knows where the word came from, but every once in a while somebody comes across an old newspaper article discussing this topic. Cocktail is a general purpose utility for os x that lets you clean, repair and optimize your mac. Heres a rundown of some of the more likely etymologies. Cocktail is a general purpose utility for macos that lets you clean, repair and optimize your mac. There are various types of cocktails, based on the number and kind of ingredients added. As you may have already expected, there is a lack of clarity on the origin of the word cocktail. The etymology of the word cocktail is still debated. Today, the cocktails taste and style are more important than its appearance, says gan.
The chunk of ice in my cocktail will be different from the chunk of ice in another cocktail. However, according to the sazerac company, presentday producers of peychauds bitters, the apothecary didnt open until 1838, so theres yet another explanation that doesnt work. There are some who think they come from the cockfights in vogue in the european taverns of the 1600. Nov 08, 2012 the origin of the term cocktail may derive from the story of betsy flanagan, who was an innkeeper during the revolutionary war, well known for mixing her own drinks. Despite of all these theories, we are quite certain that by the year 1806 the word cocktail was already being used with its current meaning. Technically speaking, a cocktail is a mix of alcohol and at least one other ingredient.
While the drink eventually fell out of favor, it enjoyed a renewed popularity after being rediscovered by the bartender murray stenson in 2004 during his tenure at the zig zag cafe and becoming a cult hit in the seattle area. Origin of the word cocktail written by darcy oneil published on february 27, 2011 in history this topic has been debated a lot and nobody really knows where the word came from, but every once in a while somebody comes across an old newspaper article discussing this topic. Cocktail is a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters. Presumably not all peychauds customers spoke french, and its quite possible that the word, pronounced cohketyay, could have been corrupted into cocktail. The drink was originally featured on the detroit athletic clubs cocktail menu. Why is a cocktail called a cocktail in the first place.
If you have too many cocktails, you may not find your way home. Sir, i observe in your paper of the 6th instant, in the account of a democratic candidate for a seat in the legislature, marked under the head of loss, 25 do. More specifically, in 1798, a british newspaper wrote that ginger was the official name of the beverage and cocktail was the slang term. Bloody aztec duo and trio cocktails bloody margaret. Cocktail recipes are alcoholic mixed drink with more than one ingredients. The new york times spirits writer robert simonson recently interviewed wondrich for grub street about the brandspankin new book, in which he revealed what he believes to be the origin of the word weve all come to know and love. The first recorded use of cocktail was in 1806, and it seems fairly accepted that it is of american origin. The most popular legend on the origin of the word is a story about a certain betsy flanagan who owned a tavern in new york back in 1779, during the revolutionary war. Download this app from microsoft store for windows 10 mobile, windows phone 8.
At heart, the last word is a basic sour, balancing citrus against the sweetness of liqueurs. Origin of the word cocktail for an alcoholic drink. The original use was as an adjective describing a creature with a tail like that of a cock, specifically a horse with a docked tail. On arrival, guests are offered wine or a champagne cocktail. Cocktail recipe book a free cocktail book app will guide you through the making of almost all super cool cocktails. After prohibition, it was featured in the 1951 classic cocktail book bottoms up. As a result, you could apply the label to a whiskey ginger, so i think its safer to define it as a drink that contains three or more elements i. As with the first instance of the term, the exact derivation is also somewhat up for debate. What we preach is cocktail families and rules of balance, explained attaboys sam ross, talking about the origin of his paper plane cocktail. The first published definition of a cocktail appeared in an editorial response in the balance and columbian repository of 1806. Cocktails smart thesaurus cloud with synonyms and related words. Eggcup coquetier the online etymology dictionary attributes the origin of the cocktail to a mispronunciation of the french word for eggcup coquetier pronounced in english as cocktay. Bartender definition, a person who mixes and serves alcoholic drinks at a bar. I have heard of a jorum, of phlegmcutter and fog driver, of wetting the whistle, and moistening the clay, of a fillip, a spur in the head, quenching a.
The last word was one of the first preprohibition drinks to lead the cocktail revival of the early aughts. Murray stenson of seattles zig zag unearthed the equalparts classicgin, maraschino liqueur, chartreuse and lime juicein ted sauciers 1962 book, bottoms up. Before long, the last word was a staple in cocktail bars across. Turns out, the sanitized dictionary explanation for the etymology of cocktail isnt far off the mark, but wondrich distills the much grosser story thusly. Proper usage and audio pronunciation plus ipa phonetic transcription of the word cocktail. Vinepair staff they might look right at the top of a glass, but a tiny paper umbrella and a twist of orange peel do not a cocktail make. The same publication gives a further use of the word cocktail in another letter to. Information and translations of tech cocktail in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Cocktails synonyms, antonyms, and related words and phrases cambridge english thesaurus. George osbornes use of cocktail echoes the common meaning of a dangerous mixture, as in the journalistic cliches cocktail of drugs and lethal cocktail. The last word sold for 35 cents and in 1916, was the most expensive drink on the menu. Cocktail definition is a usually iced drink of wine or distilled liquor mixed with flavoring ingredients.
Six cocktail apps every home bartender should download. Before we get into why a cocktail is called a cocktail we should probably address exactly what a cocktail is in the first place and how it came to be. The word origin is derived from the french word origin. The real history maybe of how the cocktail got its name saveur. The definition of a cocktail is a mix of different liquors and other liquids, or an appetizer, or a mixture of drugs. Information about cocktail in the dictionary, synonyms and antonyms. The story goes that betsy stole chickens from her british neighbour and served them roasted to her clientele. Synonyms for cocktail snacks include nibbles, appetisers, appetizers, canapes, finger food, hors doeuvres, snacks, titbits, drinks and munchies.
146 721 636 137 298 1278 556 1431 108 1482 1029 22 1194 31 346 907 1183 244 421 425 1295 242 745 180 1041 1347 787 973 806 304 80 54 412 99 683 561 614 736 461 1361 1107 179 146 16 1203 119