The History of the Cocktail

Cocktails as we now know them were first introduced in the 1920s by American bartenders. Cocktails became popular during the Roaring Twenties because of the prohibition. During this time most alcohol was of low quality, and bartenders started to mix the spirits with various flavorings to hide the poor taste of liquor they were using. As the prohibition ended, cocktails lost much of their popularity. In recent years, however, the cocktail has reclaimed lost ground everwhere; especially in the U.S.

What is a Cocktail?

Cocktails usually consist of three different parts: The Base (usually a spirit), The Modifying Agent (usually an aromatic wine like vermouth or a fruit juice), and The Special Flavoring Agent (usually a simple syrup). Any cocktail can be built by using this "formula". Just add these components to a cocktail shaker, shake and serve!

Equipment

Knowing what what equipment to put in your bar is pretty important. Make sure that you have the following items on hand:

• Cocktail Shaker-a must for mixing
• Jigger-a shotglass measure (1oz)
• Ice Buckets-cocktails need to be cold!
• Glasses

Glasses

Glasses come in three basic types:

• Tumblers-These glasses are usually short and broad, with straight or slightly sloping sides. They normally hold about 125 ml and are used for spirits with ice, fruit juices and short drinks.

• Highballs-These glasses are usually of medium width, and are tall with straight or slightly sloping sides. They normally hold between 200 and 300 ml and are used for long drinks with ice.

• Cocktail Glasses-These are the classic cocktail glasses; stemmed and with sharply sloping sides, making it Y-shaped when seen from the side. The classic cocktail glass holds about 90 ml and is best suited for short, strong drinks.

Mixers

• Club Soda
• Tonic Water
• Juices (Tomato, Cranberry, Orange)
• Grenadine
• Tabasco Sauce

Holiday Cocktail Recipes

You now have everything you need to have a "spirited" holiday party...except for the drinks. Don't worry! Here is a collection of our favorite concoctions for the season. Enjoy, and drink responsibly!

Yuletide Eggnog

12 Eggs

3 pints Heavy Cream

1 cup Sugar

1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg

1 cup Bourbon Whiskey

1 cup Cognac

1/2 teaspoon Salt

Separate the eggs. In an electric mixer, beat the egg yolks with the sugar until thick and lemon colored. Slowly add the bourbon and cognac, while beating at slow speed. Chill several hours. Add the salt to the egg whites and beat until almost stiff, or until the beaten whites form a peak that bends slightly. Whip the cream until stiff. Fold the whipped cream into the yolk mixture, then fold in the beaten egg whites. Chill one hour. When ready to serve, sprinkle the top with freshly grated nutmeg.

Super Spiked Cider

1 quart Water

3 Orange Spice Tea Bags

1/2 cup Light Brown Sugar

2 cups Apple Cider

1 1/2 cups Light Rum

8 Cinnamon Sticks

3 teaspoons Butter

Pour water into a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and toss in the orange spice tea bags. Cover and let steep 5 minutes. Remove tea bags and stir in sugar, apple cider, rum, and 2 of the cinnamon sticks. Heat just to steaming -- do not boil. Ladle hot cider into 6 mugs and drop 1/2 teaspoon butter into each. Garnish with a cinnamon "swizzle" stick.

Christmas Cosmopolitan

1 1/2 ounces Vodka, Starfruit Flavored

1/2 ounce Triple Sec or Cointreau Liqueur

1 ounce Cranberry Juice

1-2 slices Starfruit, for garnish

1 Cranberry, for garnish

To make the starfruit-infused vodka, coarsely chop 1 starfruit and put it in a fifth of vodka overnight and then strain out the fruit pieces. To make the drink, shake all the liquids in a cocktail shaker and then strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a cranberry and a few slices of starfruit to float atop the drink.

The Grinch

2 oz Midori Liquor

1 oz Vodka

1/2 oz Fresh Lemon Juice

1 tsp Sugar

Sliced Lemons and Limes

Maraschino Cherries (optional)

Green Colored Sugar

Rim the glass with lemon juice and dip into colored sugar.  Combine midori, vodka, lemon juice and sugar into a shaker filled with ice.  Shake until chilled and pour into rimmed glass.  Add lemon slices and cherries for garnish. Be careful...it's a mean one!