The History of the Coctail
The word "cocktail" conjures up all sorts of images, mainly associated with decadence, indulgence and celebration. A cocktail is enjoyed at a slower pace than the other drinks,created with such care and attention to detail that it is often saved for special occasions. A cocktail is essentially a spirit base (usually gin, vodka, whiskey, rum or tequila) combined with a mixer, which could be a fruit juice, tonic, or another non spirit alcohol. A third ingredient, the flavoring is sometimes added to compliment the base spirit and to add a more distinctive taste to the cocktail. This can be anything from Angostura bitters to a sugar cube. Although there are now many thousands of cocktails in existence, the "classic" drinks will generally only include a combination of these three components. (the cocktail bible by Sarah Ford)
