A Brief History of CocktailsA cocktail is a mixed drink typically combining spirits, sugar, water, bitters, and other flavorings (fruits, herbs, spices). Its history spans centuries of legend, innovation, and cultural evolution. Below is a concise timeline.Origins & Legends (Late 18th–Early 19th Century)
- First Recorded Use:
- The word “cocktail” appeared in 1803 in The Farmer’s Cabinet (US).
- Defined in 1806 in The Balance and Columbian Repository: “a stimulating liquor composed of any kind of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters.”
- Popular Myths:
- Fighting cock feathers: American taverns decorated drinks with tail feathers from defeated roosters → “cock tail.”
- French “coquetier”: Mispronunciation of egg cup used to serve drinks in New Orleans.
- Mexican “cola de gallo”: Sailors stirred tequila with a rooster-tail plant.
- Note: These are folklore; no definitive proof exists.
- Early Precursors:
- 18th-century British punch (5 ingredients: spirit, sugar, water, citrus, spice) was a direct ancestor.
- Post-American Revolution, bartenders began experimenting with mixed spirits.
Golden Age (Mid–Late 19th Century)
- First Cocktail Book:
1862 – Jerry Thomas publishes How to Mix Drinks, or The Bon-Vivant’s Companion (aka “The Bartender’s Bible”), including Martini, Manhattan, and Sour recipes. - Technological Advances:
- Ice became widely available (New England ice trade, 1800s).
- Tools like shakers and jiggers standardized mixing.
- Classic Cocktails Born:
- Old Fashioned (~1880): Whiskey, sugar, bitters, citrus peel.
- Daiquiri (1898, Cuba): Rum, lime, sugar.
Prohibition & Speakeasy Era (1920–1933)
- U.S. Prohibition (Volstead Act): Alcohol banned; cocktails went underground in speakeasies.
- Innovation Under Pressure:
- To mask harsh bootleg liquor, bartenders used juices, syrups → birth of Margarita, Bloody Mary, Sidecar.
- Global Spread:
- American bartenders fled to Europe (e.g., Harry MacElhone opens Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, 1911; thrives in 1920s).
Revival & Globalization (1933 Onward)
- Post-Repeal Boom:
- 1934: Tiki culture begins with Don the Beachcomber (LA) → Mai Tai, Zombie, Piña Colada.
- Molecular Mixology (2000s):
- Chefs like Ferran Adrià and Heston Blumenthal introduce foams, gels, liquid nitrogen → spherical olives, smoked cocktails.
- Modern Trends:
- Craft revival: House-made bitters, local botanicals.
- Low/No-ABV: Rise of mocktails and session cocktails.
- Asian influence: Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore innovate with lychee, yuzu, pandan → e.g., Singapore Sling (1915, Raffles Hotel).
You have the new equipment for your bar now, you need some classic cocktail recipes for your new bar? We’ve compiled some of our favorites below:
Cocktail recipes aren’t set in stone. Bartending is an art form, so you can experiment with ratios of ingredients or substitute similar ingredients to create a variation of a classic cocktail.
These are just a few examples of popular cocktails, but there are many other options to consider based on your target audience’s taste and your bar’s menu.
Classic Margarita
Ingredients
- Ice
- 2 ounces tequila
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 1 ounce triple sec
- Salt
- Lime wedge
Directions
Fill a cocktail tin with ice.
Combine tequila, fresh lime juice, and triple sec into the shaker.
Shake to mix. Rim a rocks or margarita glass with salt, and fill it with ice.
Strain the contents of the tin into the glass, and garnish with a lime wedge.
Old Fashioned
Ingredients
- 1 sugar cube or 1 teaspoon of sugar
- 2 dashes bitters
- Water
- 2 ounces whiskey
- Ice
- Orange wedge or slice
- Maraschino cherry
Directions
In a rocks glass, muddle the sugar cube with 2 dashes of bitters and a splash of water.
Add 2 ounces of whiskey and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
Add ice and stir until chilled.
Garnish with orange and cherry.
Daiquiri
Ingredients
- 2 cups crushed ice
- 2 ounces white or gold rum
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 3/4 ounce simple syrup
- Lime wheel or lime twist for garnish
Directions
Fill a shaker with crushed ice.
Combine the rum, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup in the shaker.
Shake well and strain into a chilled glass.
Garnish with a lime wheel or a lime twist that’s oil has been expressed into the daiquiri.
Manhattan
Ingredients
- Ice
- 2 ounces whiskey
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes bitters
- 1 maraschino cherry
Directions
Fill a mixing glass or tin with ice.
Add whiskey, vermouth, and bitters. Stir well
Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
Garnish with cherries and serve.
Cosmopolitan
Ingredients
- Ice
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce triple sec
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- Orange twist
Directions
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice
Add vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and lime juice to that shaker. Shake well.
Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with an orange twist whose oil has been expressed into the drink.
