Cocktail

Cocktail

A cocktail is a style of mixed drink. A cocktail usually contains one or more types of liquor and flavorings, usually one or more of a liqueur, fruit, sauce, honey, milk or cream, spices, etc. The cocktail became popular during Prohibition in the United States primarily to mask the taste of bootlegged alcohol. The bartenders at a speakeasy would mix it with other ingredients, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. One of the oldest known cocktails, the Cognac-based Sazerac, dates from 1850s New Orleans, as many as 70 years prior to the Prohibition era.

Until the 1970s, cocktails were made predominantly with gin, whiskey or rum, and less commonly vodka. From the 1970s on, the popularity of vodka increased dramatically. By the 1980s it was the predominant base for mixed drinks. Many cocktails traditionally made with gin, such as the gimlet, or the martini, may now be served by default with vodka.

Carbonated beverages that are used nearly exclusively in cocktails include soda water, tonic water and seltzer. Liqueurs are also common cocktail ingredients.

History of Cocktail

The earliest known printed use of the word “cocktail,” as originally determined by Dr. David Wondrich in October 2005[citation needed] (also relevance?), was from “The Farmer’s Cabinet”, April 28, 1803, p: “11. Drank a glass of cocktail — excellent for the head … Call’d at the Doct’s. found Burnham — he looked very wise — drank another glass of cocktail.”

The second earliest and officially recognised known printed use of the word “cocktail” (and the most well-known) was in the May 13, 1806 edition of the Balance and Columbian Repository, a publication in Hudson, New York , where the paper provided the following answer to what a cocktail was:

“Cocktail is a stimulating liquor composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters — it is vulgarly called a bittered sling and is supposed to be an excellent electioneering potion, inasmuch as it renders the heart stout and bold, at the same time that it fuddles the head. It is said, also to be of great use to a Democratic candidate: because a person, having swallowed a glass of it, is ready to swallow anything else.”

It is believed that the term “cocktail” was first used in the village of Elmsford in Weschester County, New York after a local bar ran out of stirrers and resorted to use a cock’s tail feathers to stir the drink.

The first publication of a bartenders’ guide which included cocktail recipes was in 1862: How to Mix Drinks; or, The Bon Vivant’s Companion, by Professor Jerry Thomas. In addition to listings of recipes for Punches, Sours, Slings, Cobblers, Shrubs, Toddies, Flips, and a variety of other types of mixed drinks were 10 recipes for drinks referred to as “Cocktails”. A key ingredient which differentiated “cocktails” from other drinks in this compendium was the use of bitters as an ingredient, although it is not to be seen in very many modern cocktail recipes.

During Prohibition in the United States (1919–1933), when alcohol possession was illegal, cocktails were still consumed in establishments known as speakeasies. The quality of the alcohol available was far lower than was previously used, and bartenders generally put forth less effort in preparing the cocktails.

Etymology

There are several plausible theories as to the origin of the term “cocktail”. Among them are:

•Colonial taverns kept their spirits (rum, brandy, whiskey, gin, applejack) in casks, and as the liquid in the casks lowered, the spirits would tend to lose both flavor and potency, so the tavern keeper would have an additional cask into which the tailings from the low casks could be combined and sold at a reduced price, the patrons requesting the “cock tailings” or the tailings from the stop cock of the cask. This was H.L. Mencken’s belief.

•Cocktails were originally a morning beverage, and the cocktail was the name given as metaphor for the rooster (cocktail) heralding morning light of day. This was first posited in 2004 by Ted Haigh in “Vintage Spirits & Forgotten Cocktails”, and can be distinguished from the theory “take two snips of the hair of the dog that bit you”, which refers to consuming a small bit of alcohol the morning after a “binge drinking night” to curb the effects of the symptoms of the hangover, which symptoms are actually the result of a mini-withdrawal/down-regulation effect.

•Some say that it was customary to put a feather, presumably from a cock’s tail, in the drink to serve both as decoration and to signal to teetotalers that the drink contained alcohol.

•Another etymology is that the term is derived from coquetier, a French egg-cup which was used to serve the beverage in New Orleans in the early 19th century.[1]

•The beverage was named for a mixed breed horse, known as a “cock-tail” as the beverage, like the horse, was neither strictly spirit nor wine — it was a mixed breed.

•The word could also be a distortion of Latin [aqua] decocta, meaning “distilled water”.

Cocktail Bartender

Joe Gilmore

Joe Gilmore (born 19 May 1922) was one of the longest running Head Barmen at The Savoy Hotel’s American Bar. Joe Gilmore started as a trainee barman at The American Bar in 1940 and was appointed Head Barman in 1955, a position he held until he retired in 1976. Over his years as Head Barman, Gilmore invented numerous cocktails to mark special events and important guests, a longstanding tradition at the American Bar. Joe Gilmore has invented cocktails in honor of a number of royalty, politicians and celebrities including Prince Charles, Prince William, Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Sir Winston Churchill, American President Harry S. Truman and President Nixon, and Julie Andrews. He also invented cocktails to commemorate the first walk on the moon in 1969 by Neil Armstrong, and the American and Russian link-up in space in 1975.

In addition to serving five generations of royals at private receptions and parties, Joe has also served Errol Flynn, Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Princess Grace, George Bernard Shaw, Ernest Hemmingway, Noel Coward, Agatha Christie, Alice Faye, Ingrid Bergman, Julie Andrews, Laurence Olivier Joan Crawford, Judy Garland, Liza Minelli, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.

Cocktails created by Joe Gilmore

The Blenheim

Facts at a glance
The Blenheim
Type:	Cocktail
Primary alcohol by volume:	Brandy
Served:	“Straight up”; without ice
Standard drinkware:	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients:	3 parts brandy 2 parts Yellow Chartreuse 1 part Lillet 1 part orange juice 1 part Dubonnet
Preparation:	Shake ingredients together and strain into a cocktail glass.

Created for Sir Winston Churchill’s ninetieth birthday. It is also known as the Four Score and Ten.

Churchill

Facts at a glance
Churchill
Type:	Cocktail
Primary alcohol by volume:	Scotch whisky
Served:	“Straight up”; without ice
Standard drinkware:	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients:	3 parts Scotch whisky 1 part lime juice 1 part sweet vermouth 1 part Cointreau
Preparation:	Shake ingredients together and strain into a cocktail glass.

Created for Sir Winston Churchill on one of his many visits to The Savoy.

Common Market

Facts at a glance
Common Market
Type:	Cocktail
Served:	“Straight up”; without ice
Standard drinkware:	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients:	1 part Elixir d’Anu (Belgium) 1 part Cherry Brandy (Denmark) 1 part Noilly Prat (France) 1 part Schlichte (Germany) 1 part Sloe gin (Britain) 1 part Orange Curacao (Netherlands) 1 part Dry White Wine (Luxembourg) 1 part Coffee Liqueur (Ireland) 1 part Carpano (Italy)
Preparation:	Shake and strain into cocktail glass.

Created to mark Britain’s entry into the European Economic Community in 1973, using drinks from all the other member states.

Four Score

Facts at a glance
Four Score
Type:	Cocktail
Primary alcohol by volume:	Brandy
Served:	“Straight up”; without ice
Standard garnish:	lemon
Standard drinkware:	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients:	Three parts brandy Two parts lillet One part Yellow Chartreuse
Preparation:	stir together, strain into glass, garnish with a twisted lemon rind
Notes:	This cocktail is very similar to Joe Gilmore#The Blenheim

Created for Sir Winston Churchill’s eightieth birthday.

Golden Doublet

Facts at a glance
Golden Doublet
Type:	Cocktail
Served:	“Straight up”; without ice
Standard drinkware:	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients:	3 parts orange juice 1 part lime juice 1 part Grand Marnier
Preparation:	Shake well, strain into champagne cocktail glass and fill with champagne.

Created in 1973 to commemorate the wedding of H.R.H. Princess Anne to Captain Mark Phillips. Doublet was the name of the Princess’s horse on which she won her Olympic medal.

Kensington Court Special

Facts at a glance
Kensington Court Special
Type:	Cocktail
Primary alcohol by volume:	Vodka
Served:	“Straight up”; without ice
Standard drinkware:	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients:	1 part Passion Fruit Juice 1 part Lime Juice 1 part Apricot Brandy 3 parts Vodka
Preparation:	Shake and strain into cocktail glass.

Created for Sir David Davies.

Link Up

Facts at a glance
Link Up
Type:	Cocktail
Primary alcohol by volume:	Brandy Vodka
Served:	“On the rocks”; poured over ice
Standard drinkware:	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients:	1 part Southern Comfort 1 part Russian vodka Teaspoon of fresh lime juice
Preparation:	Shake well, serve on the rocks.

Created in 1975 to mark the American and Russians link up in Space, the Apollo-Soyuz project. The Link Up cocktail was sent to the U.S.A and U.S.S.R for the astronauts to enjoy when they returned from their mission. When told this by NASA as they linked up in Space, they responded, “Tell Joe we want it up here”.

Lorraine

Facts at a glance
Lorraine
Type:	Cocktail
Primary alcohol by volume:	Gin
Served:	“On the rocks”; poured over ice
Standard drinkware:	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients:	2 parts Gin 1 part Lillet 1 part Grand Marnier
Preparation:	Stir with ice, strain into glass, and serve.

Created to mark President Charles de Gaulle’s State visit to Britain after the Second World War.

Missouri Mule

Facts at a glance
Missouri Mule
Type:	Cocktail
Primary alcohol by volume:	Bourbon whiskey Campari
Served:	“Straight up”; without ice
Standard drinkware:	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients:	2 parts Bourbon whiskey 2 parts applejack 2 parts lemon juice 1 part Campari 1 part Cointreau
Preparation:	Shake and strain into cocktail glass.

The Missouri Mule cocktail was created for President Harry S Truman. The cocktail commemorates Truman’s homestate of Missouri and the donkey mascot of the Democratic Party (a mule is a hybrid of a donkey and a horse).

Moonwalk

Facts at a glance
Moonwalk
Type:	Cocktail
Served:	“Straight up”; without ice
Standard drinkware:	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients:	1 part fresh grapefruit juice 1 part Grand Marnier 2 dashes rosewater
Preparation:	Shake well, strain into wine glass and top up with champagne.

Created in 1969 to mark the first moon landing. The cocktail was the first drink the American astronauts had when they returned to Earth. A letter of thanks was later sent from Neil Armstrong to Joe Gilmore.

My Fair Lady

Facts at a glance
My Fair Lady
Type:	Cocktail
Primary alcohol by volume:	Gin
Served:	“Straight up”; without ice
Commonly used ingredients:	1 part gin 1 part lemon juice 1 part orange juice 1 part Sirop de Fraise 1 dash of egg white
Preparation:	Shake ingredients together, strain into a glass and serve.

Created to mark Julie Andrews’ first night in the musical My Fair Lady.

Nixon

Facts at a glance
Nixon
Type:	Cocktail
Primary alcohol by volume:	Bourbon whiskey
Served:	“On the rocks”; poured over ice
Standard garnish:	a slice of fresh peach and a cherry
Standard drinkware:	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients:	1 part Bourbon whiskey 1 part sloe gin 2 dashes of peach bitters
Preparation:	Stir and serve on the rocks, garnish.

Created in 1969 to mark American President Nixon’s visit to Britain. The cocktail was mixed at the American bar and then sent over to Claridge’s where Nixon was staying.

Prince of Wales

Facts at a glance
Prince of Wales
Type:	Cocktail
Primary alcohol by volume:	Brandy
Served:	“Straight up”; without ice
Standard drinkware:	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients:	1 part lemon juice 1 part cherry brandy 1 strawberry 1 teaspoon sugar
Preparation:	Blend and then pour into a champagne glass and fill with champagne.

Created to mark the Investiture of H.R.H Prince Charles as Prince of Wales.

Royal Arrival

Facts at a glance
Royal Arrival
Type:	Cocktail
Primary alcohol by volume:	Gin
Served:	“Straight up”; without ice
Standard drinkware:	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients:	4 parts gin 1 parts lemon juice 1 part Crème de Noyaux 1 part Kumel Dash egg white Dash vegetable extract
Preparation:	Shake well, strain into glass, and serve

Created in 1960 to mark the birth of H.R.H. Prince Andrew.

Savoy Affair

Facts at a glance
Savoy Affair
Type:	Mixed drink
Primary alcohol by volume:	Brandy
Served:	“Straight up”; without ice
Standard garnish:	a strawberry
Standard drinkware:	Champagne cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients:	1 part lime juice 1 part Fraise de Bois liqueur 1 part passion fruit juice 1 part peach brandy
Preparation:	Shake and strain into a champagne cocktail glass and fill with champagne and garnish.

Created by Joe Gilmore at the Atlantic Hotel, Hamburg, Germany.

Savoy Royale

Facts at a glance
Savoy Royale
Type:	Mixed drink
Served:	“Straight up”; without ice
Standard drinkware:	Champagne glass
Commonly used ingredients:	1/2 peach 2 strawberries Teaspoon of sugar
Preparation:	Liquidise, strain into a champagne glass and fill with champagne.

Created for H.R.H Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother on one of her private visits to The Savoy.

Savoy Corpse Reviver

Facts at a glance
Savoy Corpse Reviver
Type:	Cocktail
Primary alcohol by volume:	Brandy
Served:	“Straight up”; without ice
Commonly used ingredients:	One part brandy One part Fernet Branca One part White Crème de menthe

Created in 1954 as a hangover cure cocktail.

Wolfram

Facts at a glance
Wolfram
Type:	Cocktail
Primary alcohol by volume:	Gin
Served:	“On the rocks”; poured over ice
Standard drinkware:	Cocktail glass
Commonly used ingredients:	2 parts gin 2 parts Wolfschmidt 2 parts dry vermouth 1 part lemon juice
Preparation:	Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass.

Created in 1990 to commemorate the election of John Wolff as Chairman of the London Metal Exchange. “Wolfram” is another name for the element tungsten.