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Cocktails
A Look At The History And Nature Of Cocktails
In today's vocabulary, it is common to refer to virtually any mixed drink as a cocktail. Based on early published definitions, this is not the case. The traditional definition of a cocktail is any type of spirits mixed with sugar, water, and bitters. Bitters is defined as a secret blend of herb, roots, fruits, and a base liquor. Bitters can not be drunk alone, and are used only in dashes as an ingredient in cocktails. They are, however, a defining ingredient and necessary to make a classical cocktail.
Nobody knows the origin of the name cocktail. There are a wide range of stories circulating about that link the drink to the tail feather of a rooster as either a means of stirring or a garnish placed in the glass for appearances in the English colonies of America. Other stories place the origins in Mexico. Despite the origin of the name, it has become a part of modern language.
Over the centuries, the number of cocktail recipes available has grown to encompass several thousand different drinks. Many are somewhat seasonal. Others are just passing fads. Still, there are a good many different drink recipes that a good bartender should be aware of and able to make. Some are regional favorites as well as standards.
In modern times, an entire subculture has sprung up around cocktails. People who spend a great deal of their free time in bars and clubs sampling different cocktails or consuming their favorites regularly comprise this cocktail culture. Cocktails are even the theme of some parties held by individuals for personal or business reasons. It is not uncommon for an executive to invite a client or potential client to a cocktail party in his home in hopes of sealing a deal they have been working on.
One of the features most people look for when they are planning an event such as a wedding, or large party, is a caterer that can supply them with a wet bar and someone capable of mixing a variety of cocktails. In general, once the solemnities have been observed, people tend to consume alcoholic beverages in social settings to enhance their enjoyment of the event. Skilled bartenders are also a high demand item in bars, clubs, and cabanas around the world.
Experienced bartenders often compete against one another to see who can mix the best version of a classic cocktail. This means that each one brings a touch of his/her own personality to the drinks served. In addition, there is always a competition going among bartenders to see who can produce an original cocktail that will become popular among the cocktail subculture, even if only fleetingly.
In some establishments, bartenders are as much entertainers as servers. These individuals make all of their drinks with flourishes and bottle spins, etc, that are as appealing to the eyes as the drinks are to the palate. This type of bartending is often depicted in movies and television programs such the movie "Cocktails" with Tom Cruise from the 1980s.
Cocktails have changed a lot over the years. The choice of items available for inclusion in cocktails and the variety of flavors of spirits is always changing. For example, Absolut vodka has recently introduced a mango flavored variety of their product. When this is used in certain mixed drinks and cocktails, the flavor is substantially changed from the original.
Often the quality of a cocktail is a direct function of the brand of liquor included. As odd as it may seem, no two distillers produce exactly identical products. Each different brand of bourbon whiskey has essentially the same alcohol content and ingredients. There are, however, subtle differences in percentages of ingredients, aging processes and times, and handling procedures that affect the taste, making each one different from the rest.
This is the reason so many bars and clubs will have several different brands of the same liquor open and in use for making cocktails. Depending on the price a person is willing to pay and the availability of the same brand used in the original making of a cocktail, some can be very good, while others are mediocre using the exact same amounts of everything in the recipe.
While we may never know the truth of the origin of cocktails and the name cocktail, we can rest assured that there will continue to be improvements made to existing recipes and new recipes created by bartenders with a creative side to them. Some may achieve the status of standard such as a martini, Tom Collins, fuzzy navel, and others. Many may be popular for a while and fade into obscurity. The fun will lay in the sampling and refining of each one until it becomes the perfect cocktail. form these functions.
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