What is a Cocktail Cocktail is a welliced
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What is a Cocktail?
Cocktail is a well-iced mixed drink made up of a base liquor, a modifying ingredient as a modifier, and a special flavoring or coloring agents. It is usually an apperitiff taken at leisure before a meal to wet the appetite, it is also reputedly aids digestion.
A cocktail should stimulate the mind by inducing relaxation and providing over-all comfort and enjoyment to the drinker while pleasing to the palate as well as the eye. It must still have a distinct alcoholic flavor without being overpowering.
The word cocktail comes from a Frenchman who cheered “Le vive le coqs tails” when he saw the bottles lined up in the bar (Halls Corner, in Elmsford, New York City owned by Betsy Flanagan) he was dining is decorated with a cock’s tail feathers as a stirrer to each drink.
Ingredients of a cocktail:
The Base Liquor – it is the liquor base which determines the type of cocktail. It consists of a single spirituous liquor, though a combination of wines, liquors or aromatic wines are also commonly accepted.
The Modifier – in order that the drink may be called a cocktail, the base liquor must be mixed with the modifier. If the modifier is absent, then the base liquor on its own no matter how well chilled or vigorously shaken is still not a cocktail.
Modifiers include bitters, syrups, juice, milk, cream, water and other mixers such as soda, tonic, ginger ale, lemonade, and colas. The modifier has the important function of neutralizing the sharpness in the base liquor and perking up the drink itself.
The Special Agent – the cocktail is made appealing to smell and sight by the additive of special flavours and colouring agents. These should be used with even greater discretion than the modifier. They should be used in dashes and drops not in jiggers and ponnies such as grenadines, eggs, almond extract and other.
Garniture One that makes the cocktail more attractive and enhance its presentation, it must have a garnish or decoration. Fresh fruits like orange, lemon, pineapple, green olives, cocktail onions, red cherries, celery, mint leaves, parsley, nutmeg, cinnamon and other fruits can also be useful. It also adds flavor and taste so it shall be used discretely.
Three Categories of Cocktail (Mixed) Drinks:
Pre-Dinner Drinks mixed drinks that are basically dry in taste and are usually served before a meal to wet the appetite like Martinis, short drinks, etc.
After-Dinner Drinks mixed drinks that are basically sweet and/or creamy type. Could be well served after a meal, like Grasshopper, etc.
Long Drinks are tall drinks, which consist of liquor (liqueur) with some mixers. It’s usually a refreshing drink that could be drink anytime of the day, like Tom Collins, Singapore Sling, etc.
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