Cocktails
Cocktails
Cocktails
Cocktails are mixed drinks that have become popular since the first quarter of the 20 th century and all
bars offer a list of selected cocktails. However, people have been drinking mixed drinks since the
inception; no one could really establish the origi of the ter Co ktail . It is claimed that the first recipe
for a cocktail was lemon juice and powdered mixers, appreciated by Emperor Commodus in the second
century AD.
One of many popular notions on the birth of the word cocktail is that during the American War of
Independence, in 1779, an innkeeper, Betsy Flanagan of Virginia prepared of chicken she stole from a
neighbor who was pro British. She then served the French soldiers with mixed drinks decorated with the
feathers from the birds. Her merry French guests toasted her with the words Vive le cocktail. Since then
the word cocktail was used to mean the mixed drinks. This is of course one of the stories.
The word cocktail was first described in an American magazine Balance as a mixture of spirits, sugar
water and bitters in 1806
The cocktail gained ground and popularity in the USA, especially during the Prohibition period. The
production, transportation and sale of alcoholic beverage were banned in the USA from 1920 to 1933
due to the pressure from religious and political thinkers.
A cocktail is normally a short drink of 3 ½ -4 fluid ounces-a thi g larger ei g alled a i ed dri k or a
lo g dri k
Classification of cocktails
It is estimated that there are over 10 thousand mixed drinks and cocktails in use.
1. Aperitif: These stimulate the Appetite. They must therefore be appealing to the eye. Broadly
speaking, these drinks are usually made from wines mixed with spirit.
2. Cocktail: This the largest group of all, and consists of all short shaken mixed drinks. They should
contain a spirit base, coloring and flavouring ingredient or other modifying agent
3. Long drinks: These are served in tall tumblers such as High Balls ,or Collins glass
4. Stimulants: Instead of going to the doctor, if one has a hangover the bartender will prescribe
o ktails or i ed dri ks. The are also des ri ed as Pi k e ups .
Components of Cocktail:
Cocktails have the following components:
Base: The major alcoholic drink used in the preparation of a cocktail is called base, which is usually a
spirit. Most cocktails are built around spirits. If a cocktail has two or more alcoholic drinks the quantity
of the base generally will be more than the other. If two alcoholic drinks are used in same quantity, then
the one with the higher that is the sprit is considered as the base. If a cocktail has equal quantities of
different spirits then any one of the spirit can be taken as the base.
Modifier: These are complimentary ingredients added to modify or enhance the flavours. Spirits,
aromatized, wines beer, fruit juices, soda, cream, liqueurs, water etc.
Flavouring, Colouring and Sweetening Ingredient: A drink might have very small quantities (few drops)
of one or more flavouring and sweetening ingredients to make it different from other drinks. A cocktail
can be made without these ingredients
Garnish: Many drinks have garnish. They are part of the product. It should be remembered that some
drinks do not have standard garnish and it is advisable to serve without any garnish, instead of trying out
different garnishes and spoiling the real flavour and value of the drink.
Building: It is made by pouring the ingredients one by one in the glass in which it is to be served. If ice is
required, it is placed first before adding the ingredients
Stirring: refers to mixing of the ingredients with ice by stirring quickly in a mixing glass with a stirrer and
then straining to an appropriate glass. It is done very quickly to minimize the dilution.
Shaking: It is the mixing of ingredients thoroughly with ice by shaking them in Cocktail shaker and
straining into appropriate glasses. Effervescent drinks should never be shaken.
Blending: This method is used for combining fruits, solid foods, ice etc in a electric bender. Any drink
that can be shaken can be blended. It is a suitable method for making large quantity of mixed drinks
Layering: This method is used when the ingredients used are of different colour flavour and density. One
ingredient is floated over the other by pouring gently over the back of the spoon into straight-sided
glass.
POINTS TO NOTE WHILE MAKING COCKTAILS AND MIXED DRINKS
Make sure that there is a good supply of ice
Do not touch the ice with hands. Always use scoop or tongs.
Do not leave the prepared cocktail for a long time as they will separate
To extract more juice from citrus fruits, Soak them in hot water
Always place ice first in the mixing glass or shaker followed by nonalcoholic beverage and then
non alcoholic beverages.
To extract more juice from citrus fruits, Soak them in hot water
Always place ice first in the mixing glass or shaker followed by nonalcoholic beverage and then
non alcoholic beverages.
Cocktail Garnishes
A garnish is an item that decorates and flavours food and drinks. In bar the garnish most used are fruit
and some herbs. The fruit must always be fresh and washed.
Orange: Orange slices or wedges are used much the same way as lime is used in cocktails with a base of
orange juice.
Maraschino cherries: These cherries are specially prepared for cocktail decorative purposes.
Olives: Olives go well with neat drinks like vodka and gin
Pineapple: Pineapple spears or wheels go as garnishes for tropical drinks, where pineapple juice is used.
Mint leaves: they are ideal for decorative purposes specially when a contrast in colour is desired
Parsley: Parsley shoots are used in some rinks more as a decorative item.
4 Buck Same as Rickey; instead of soda and lime Build; highball/ old-fashioned
5 old-fashioned Sprit Sugar, bitters, cherry, and orange for Build; old-fashioned
6 Mint julep Bourbon, fresh mint, sugar, shaved ice Build; highball
Vermouth.
8 Daiquiris Chilled drink made with rum, lime and sugar Shake; cocktail glass
Juice
10 Daisies Sprit, lemon, Grenadine, crushed ice, soda Shake; mug, goblet
13 Fizz Spirits citrus juice, sugar, soda, egg, ice cube Shake; highball
14 Flips Same as egg noggs without mild and egg white; Shake; goblet
15 Frappes Spirit and/or liqueurs and crushed ice. Served Build/shake; 6-12oz
18 Pousse- Syrups, Liqueurs, and spirits of various densities Layering; straight sided
Café are gently layered one over the other by gently glass
19 Punches Rum, hot or cold water, citrus fruit juice, sugar Shake; Collins/goblet
And fruits
20 Smashes Smaller version of mint juleps, made from any Build; old-fashioned/
Highball
22 Sours Spirits, citrus fruit juice, syrup, egg white Shake; cocktail
25 Sangarees It is a sweetened drink made with spirits, wine, Stir; old fashioned
26 Swizzle Spirits, sugar citrus juice crushed ice soda and Stir; highball
27 Toddy It may be either hot or cold and served as refresher Stir; goblet/old
Classic Cocktails.
1) ALEXANDER
This drink is supposed to have been invented by Hollywood singing star, nelson eddy, more remembered
for his recipe than his film
1/3 brandy
1/3 cream
2) B & B
The traditional mix of half Benedictine and half
3) BACARDI
1/3 brandy
1/3 cointreau
5) BLOODY MARY
1fl. Oz of vodka
celery salt
6) BLACK RUSSIAN
2/3 vodka
1/3 kahlua
7) BLUE LAGOON
½ fl. Oz of vodka
lemonade
8)BOMBAY COCKTAIL
½ brandy
½ dry vermouth
½ sweet vermouth
1 dash of pastis
Stir
9) BRONX
Good aperitif
½ gin
1 lump sugar
angostura bitter
2 dashes of brandy
champagne
cola
12) DIAQUIRI
¾ white rum
¼ fresh juice
½ gin
½ dubonnet
14) FLIPPS
makes it so refreshing
1 measure of gin
Soda water
soda water
Build together all but the soda water into an ice filled highball glass.
17) GIMLET
2/3 gin
Stir together all but the soda water. Serve on the rocks, splash of
• 30 ml Vodka
• 30 ml galliano
Stir Garnish with orange slice and cherry. Float some Galliano on top.
Collins was made with Dutch gin & Tom Collins with old tom gin.
Juice of 1 lemon
1 measure of gin
soda water
20) MANHATTAN
Peel
Perfect
21) MARGARITA
2/5 tequila
Shake, rub the rim of the glass with lemon to moisten and
22) MARTINI
The martini is the most famous of all cocktails, lot of argument over
Sweet Dry
Perfect
2/3 gin
23) NOGS
1 egg
½ pint milk
Cups are of English origin, the most famous being, the stirrup
Pour Pimms into an ice filled highball glass then top it with
with a name
ea i g strai ed pi eapple .
1 ½ coconut cream
Yet a other of the ladies dri ks. It dates efore the First World
War and was named after a stage play. The pink color
1/5 grenadine
1 egg white
Shake
½ measure grenadine
A further modification of Manhattan. Made with scotch and very much in the
½ scotch whisky
½ sweet vermouth
1/3 drambuie
1 fl. Oz vodka
¼ Brandy
¼ cointreau
¼ lemon juice
Shake
Singapore sling has its origin in the famous raffles hotel, Singapore.
1 measure gin
juice of 1 lemon
Soda water
name from the way the grenadine syrup first sinks to the
1 fl. Oz tequila
4 fl. Oz orange juice
2 dashes of grenadine
1 ½ fl. Oz whisky
name from the way the grenadine syrup first sinks to the
1 fl. Oz tequila
2 dashes of grenadine
½ gin
¼ cointreau
Shake.
Water: The simplest of all mixers that dilute the strength of ardent spirits without altering the character
of their basic flavour. Water is indispensable to whisky drinkers
Fruit juices: There are many kind different juices which can be pressed to service. Examples are:
Orange juice
Lemon Juice
Lime juice.
Pineapple juice.
Grapefruit Juice
Tomato juice
Other fruit juices
Sparkling beverages:
Soda water
Tonic water ( quinine based Mineral water mainly used for Gin and Tonic)
Lemonade
Cola
Syrups: