What is a Cocktail?What is a Cocktail?

Cocktail is a well-iced mixed drink Cocktail is a well-iced mixed drink made up of a base liquor, a made up of a base liquor, a

modifying ingredient as a modifier, modifying ingredient as a modifier, and a special flavoring or coloring and a special flavoring or coloring agents. It is usually an apperitiff agents. It is usually an apperitiff taken at leisure before a meal to taken at leisure before a meal to

wet the appetite, it is also reputedly wet the appetite, it is also reputedly aids digestion. aids digestion.

A cocktail should stimulate the A cocktail should stimulate the mind by inducing relaxation and mind by inducing relaxation and providing over-all comfort and providing over-all comfort and enjoyment to the drinker while enjoyment to the drinker while

pleasing to the palate as well as the pleasing to the palate as well as the eye. It must still have a distinct eye. It must still have a distinct

alcoholic flavor without being over-alcoholic flavor without being over-powering.powering.

The word cocktail comes from a The word cocktail comes from a Frenchman who cheered “Le vive Frenchman who cheered “Le vive

le coqs tails” when he saw the le coqs tails” when he saw the bottles lined up in the bar (Halls bottles lined up in the bar (Halls

Corner, in Elmsford, New York City Corner, in Elmsford, New York City owned by Betsy Flanagan) he was owned by Betsy Flanagan) he was dining is decorated with a cock’s dining is decorated with a cock’s tail feathers as a stirrer to each tail feathers as a stirrer to each

drink.drink.

Ingredients of a Ingredients of a cocktail:cocktail:

The Base LiquorThe Base Liquor

– it is the liquor base which – it is the liquor base which determines the type of cocktail. determines the type of cocktail. It consists of a single spirituous It consists of a single spirituous liquor, though a combination of liquor, though a combination of wines, liquors or aromatic wines wines, liquors or aromatic wines

are also commonly accepted.are also commonly accepted.

The ModifierThe Modifier

– in order that the drink may be – in order that the drink may be called a cocktail, the base liquor called a cocktail, the base liquor

must be mixed with the modifier. If must be mixed with the modifier. If the modifier is absent, then the the modifier is absent, then the base liquor on its own no matter base liquor on its own no matter

how well chilled or vigorously how well chilled or vigorously shaken is still not a cocktail. shaken is still not a cocktail.

Modifiers include bitters, syrups, Modifiers include bitters, syrups, juice, milk, cream, water and juice, milk, cream, water and other mixers such as soda, other mixers such as soda, tonic, ginger ale, lemonade, tonic, ginger ale, lemonade,

and colas. The modifier has the and colas. The modifier has the important function of important function of

neutralizing the sharpness in neutralizing the sharpness in the base liquor and perking up the base liquor and perking up

the drink itself.the drink itself.

The Special AgentThe Special Agent

– the cocktail is made appealing to – the cocktail is made appealing to smell and sight by the additive of smell and sight by the additive of

special flavours and colouring special flavours and colouring agents. These should be used with agents. These should be used with

even greater discretion than the even greater discretion than the modifier. They should be used in modifier. They should be used in dashes and drops not in jiggers dashes and drops not in jiggers

and ponnies such as grenadines, and ponnies such as grenadines, eggs, almond extract and other.eggs, almond extract and other.

GarnitureGarniture

One that makes the cocktail more One that makes the cocktail more attractive and enhance its presentation, it attractive and enhance its presentation, it must have a garnish or decoration. Fresh must have a garnish or decoration. Fresh fruits like orange, lemon, pineapple, green fruits like orange, lemon, pineapple, green

olives, cocktail onions, red cherries, olives, cocktail onions, red cherries, celery, mint leaves, parsley, nutmeg, celery, mint leaves, parsley, nutmeg, cinnamon and other fruits can also be cinnamon and other fruits can also be

useful. It also adds flavor and taste so it useful. It also adds flavor and taste so it shall be used discretely.shall be used discretely.

Three Categories of Three Categories of Cocktail (Mixed) Cocktail (Mixed)

Drinks:Drinks:

Pre-Dinner DrinksPre-Dinner Drinks

mixed drinks that are basically mixed drinks that are basically dry in taste and are usually dry in taste and are usually

served before a meal to wet the served before a meal to wet the appetite like Martinis, short appetite like Martinis, short

drinks, etc.drinks, etc.

After-Dinner DrinksAfter-Dinner Drinks

mixed drinks that are basically mixed drinks that are basically sweet and/or creamy type. sweet and/or creamy type.

Could be well served after a Could be well served after a meal, like Grasshopper, etc.meal, like Grasshopper, etc.

Long DrinksLong Drinks

are tall drinks, which consist of are tall drinks, which consist of liquor (liqueur) with some liquor (liqueur) with some

mixers. It’s usually a refreshing mixers. It’s usually a refreshing drink that could be drink drink that could be drink

anytime of the day, like Tom anytime of the day, like Tom Collins, Singapore Sling, etc.Collins, Singapore Sling, etc.

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