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It isn’t known how, why and when the word cocktail has started to be used
for the fırst time. Cocktail, which has been formed from the
combination of “cock” and “tail”, has meant the meaning of a “mixed
drink” for nearly 200 years. In fact, it should be mentioned here that the
history of the process of mixing the drinks goes in the same parallel with the
history of humanity. For example, it is known that Pharaohes in the old Egypt
mixed different kinds of drinks and served them to their guests.
It is said that the first cocktail has been done A.C. in the second century
during the period of Emperor Commodius. The components of the mixture were
lemonade and powdered grass. Furthermore, the first book about cocktail was
published in the 17th century by London Distillers Company. The mixtures that
the book mentioned in it were too much complicated and the introduction part
talked about the medical worth of these mixtures.
For the first time in 1806 an American magazine gave the definition of cocktail
as “Mixture of alcohol, sugar, water and bitters”. Furthermore, where the
name comes from is a mystery.
Once upon a time, there was tradition in Yorkshire: rutting the tails of the
horses that were hybrid. Those horses were believed to have cock-tails then. Its
possible that drinks were mixed with the cut tails, and therefore the drinks
became known as the “cocktails”. During the American Civil War, a woman
named Betsy Flanagan was serving both Washington and La Fayette. In her saloon,
she gave parties for soldiers from both sides. One day, she made a chicken meal
for French soldiers and decorated the glasses with colorful feathers. To which
the French made a toast for Betsy Flanagan’s health and said “Vive le
cocktail!”.
Another story again during the American Civil War, this time in Washington: an
invincible rooster was gone one day. The owner declared that he would give his
daughter Bessie to whom who will bring it back. It happened so that Bessie’s
ex-lover found the rooster, someone her father disliked much. It was all a
preplanned conspiracy, but the father had to stay behind his words so he made a
huge wedding for them. During the celebration, Bessie got very drunk and started
serving people drinks, which were all mixed up with different alcohols. The
guests called these drinks “cocktail”.
English naval officers in Campeche – Mexico Gulf were drinking punches called
“dracs”. The word “dracs” most probably comes from the famous English
Captain Drake. These punches were being mixed by wooden spoons, which were in
the shape of tail of cock and were known as cola de gallo (=cocktail!) in the
suburbs. Later on, the name cocktail was given to these drinks.
Again we are in a time in Mexico. The daughter of the Head Skipper offers exotic
drinks to American naval officers who have come to visit him. The name of the
girl was X-Octl. The Americans being inspired of the girls’ name, gave the
name “cocktail” to these strange drinks.
Obviously, there comes no end to these legends. In the 18th century in England,
an alcoholic drink called “cock ale” was given to fighting roosters. It is
written that there were as many ingredients in the drink as the number of
feathers the rooster had in his tail. People used to drink it to the honor of
the winner. Therefore, the word cocktail might be formed as a reason of
tradition.
Obviously, these are not limited only to English and American sources. French
sources claim that “cocktail” comes from “coquetel”. Coquetel is a mixed
drink prepared from the wine of Bordeaux and its suburbs and is served in an
original cup. According to another legend, a French doctor from New Orleans
serviced his guests the drink in pots of egg called “coquetiers” and later
Americans changed the name as “cocktail”.
In 1871, there was a story known as “An American Cock-Tale”. According to
this story, in one of the steam-boats of the Mississippi, all drinks were
emptied into a bath sink and the mixture was poured into glasses in the shape of
a chest of a cock and again stirred up with bars shaped like a tail of a cock.
Therefore, the name cocktail was formed.
“The Bon Vivant’s Guide or How to Mix Drinks (For Those Who Know How to
Enjoy Life)” written in 1862 by Jerry Thomas, can be considered as an
interesting book about cocktails. 20 years later Harry Johnson’s “Bartenders
Manual or How to Mix Drinks of the Battifol” in his book “Life in Paris
during the Period of 12. Louis” claims that cocktail has been brought to
France in the 17th century by an Italian called Catherine de Medici, and that
cocktail became popular in France when the “Association of Trader of Lemonade
and Distillation of Brandy” was set up during the period of 14. Louis. It is
well known that some kinds of cocktails were produced in an instant. For
example, Negroni was being served for the first time in Casani Bar in
Florence. In 1919, Count Camille offered to add gin to this cocktail, which was
having until then only the mixture of red Cinzano, vermouth and Campari. The
name for the cocktail was founded by chance when customers wanted the barmen
Fosco Scarselli to prepare “Negroni’s Cocktail”. Bloody Mary
carries the name of unforgettable actress Mary Pickford of 1930’s; not the
name Queen Mary of Scotland as it is believed. Meanwhile, cocktail Caruso
has been dedicated to the great tenor Enrico Caruso. French writer J.K.
Huysmans, who has lived in the 19th century, compares cocktail with symphonic
orchestra in his novel “A Rebours”. According to this comparison, curacao is
a clarinet, gin and whisky are trombone, brandy is a violin and votka is a
cello.14. Louis was in a habit of drinking a cocktail named “Vinum
Hippocraticum” in Latin, which was prepared by adding cinnamon, honey and
almond to wine. Moreover, monks of Camaldole had produced a mixture (measures
aren’t exactly know today) of brandy and palm juice.
Now, having given all this information about cocktails, its time to go to a bar
and order a cocktail. Why wait? GO AND ENJOY!!
The firms that produce the world’s famous cocktails and their date of establishments are as follows:
| Bols | (1580) |
| Martell | (1715) |
| Drioli di Zara | (1738) |
| Cinzano | (1757) |
| Hennesy | (1765) |
| Coral | (1802) |
| Buton | (1820) |
| Luxardo | (1821) |
| Florio | (1832) |
| Martini | (1840) |
| Branca | (1848) |
| Distillers Corporation Seagrams | (1868) |
| Stock | (1884) |
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