History of Cocktails
The term “cocktail” refers to a type of mixed drink, which generally
contains some form of alcohol. More specifically, cocktails are made
from gin, whiskey, rum, tequila, brandy, or vodka. These are all forms
of “hard” alcohol, which many people do not enjoy drinking alone. So, to
make tastier tonics, they started mixing them with other beverages to
create the cocktail.
The term cocktail was first used in the early 19th century. At that
time, it was defined as a drink consisting of liquor, sugar, water, and
bitters. In these early years, it seems the cocktail was seen more as a
medicinal remedy than a recreational beverage. However, within a few
decades, that changed.
In 1862, the first bartender’s guide to include cocktails was
officially published. It was entitled, How to Mix Drinks and included 10
mixed beverages specifically classified as “cocktails.” From there, the
phenomenon spread. By the early decades of the 20th century, cocktail
parties were being thrown by social elites in the United States.
Unfortunately, these soon took a hiatus when the country adopted
prohibition. However, illegal consumption of poor tasting homemade
alcohol made the cocktail even more popular. To cover up the poor
quality of the illegal liquor, new recipes for mixed drinks were
developed.
For the first century of their existence, most cocktails were made
from gin, whiskey, and rum. However, beginning in the 1970s, more and
more bartenders started using vodka. Today, vodka is perhaps the most
popular liquor for cocktails. Tequila has also grown in popularity in
recent decades, while whiskey’s use has greatly declined.
U'Luvka vodka is inspired by a 16th century royal Polish vodka
enjoyed by monarchs. The vodka is Imported from Poland and made with
rye, barley and wheat.
Today there seems to be an almost endless array of cocktail recipes.
Historically, though, only a few staple drinks started the cocktail
movement. One of the first drinks to be officially named was the
martini. In its original form, the martini was a mixture of sweet red
vermouth and gin with a cherry and lemon to garnish. Over time, this
drink has been transformed. Now, though, the most common variation on
the martini mixes dry white vermouth with gin and an olive garnish. Just
as martinis come in an iconic glass, so too have other cocktails
influenced traditional barware. For example, the development of stemmed
cocktail glasses resulted as bartenders realized that holding cold
cocktails disrupted the drink’s temperature and, subsequently, its
taste. Additionally, to make cocktails more attractive, bartenders
started using abstract shapes, colors, and decorative stirrers to make
their drinks into true works of art.
Regardless of the drink chosen or glass used, cocktails have become a
major part of our culture. They are enjoyed on romantic evenings, at
parties, during seasonal celebrations, and even at professional outings.
It seems these drinks have come a long way from their centuries-old
roots, and their long history is far from over.
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