BIS MAGAZINE/The BIS Guide/BIS Guide to the Cocktail!

This month, we proudly present the BIS Guide to

 .....THE COCKTAIL

 

There are many myths and legends surrounding the origin of the Cocktail, however one thing that we may be sure of is that the Cocktail itself is a hugely popular commodity, so much so that there are bars, restaurants, books and even movies devoted entirely to itīs being!

In honour of the great Cocktail we bring you five of our favourite Cocktail recipes and some of the more unusual stories about itīs creation. So whether you prefer yourīs fruity or fiery, shaken or stirred, we hope youīll find something here to tempt your tastebuds.

The Birth of the Cocktail

It seems no one quite knows the true origins of the Cocktail .... the following however are some of the more interesting theories!

In Colonial times the tap for pouring ale was referred to as a "cock". Signs would show a cock and a bottle. When the bottom of the barrel was reached, it was called the "cock tail". A Colonel Carter of Virginia was served a poor quality cock tail and proclaimed, "Hereafter, I will drink cocktails of my own brewing".

Some time around 1800, King Axoloti VII of Mexico was meeting with an American General of the Southern States to discuss a peace treaty. The King asked the General if he would like a drink & a beautiful girl brought one cup, adorned in jewels. It was embarrassing for both, as one would have to drink first. Seeing this, the girl drank it. Her name was Coctel. The General promised to immortalize her name.

The Sazerac is also reported to be the first cocktail. Antoine Amedee Peychaud, born in France and creator of Peychaud Bitters was it's inventor. Peychaud invented his bitters in Santo Domingo and brought the recipe to New Orleans with him. He opened a drugstore called Pharmacie Peychaud on Royal Street. Friends gathered frequently to sample his drinks served in a coquetier which is the French word for an egg cup. The mispronunciation of cocquetier resulted in the term cocktail.

Others believe it originated in England. Horses of superb quality, but of mixed origins would have their tails docked to identify them. They were known as "cocktails". A Dr. Johnson, familiar with the term, mixed his friend Boswell a drink of wine laced with gin. He told him, "to mix spirits to wine smacks of our alcoholic hyperbole. It would be a veritable cocktail of a drink." Another English story points to the officers of the Second Regimen of the Royal Sussex Fusileers. Other regimens called the officers, who wore plumes in their caps, "the cocktails".

In Mississippi, during the riverboat gambling days, men fought each other and the winner got to wear a red cock's feather in his cap. He was then known as the "Cock of the Walk". They also would drink every spirit in the boat's lounge in a glass that resembled a breast of a cock, with a stirrer that resembled a tail feather.

A few of our favourite Cocktailīs ....

A Goodnight Kiss

4 oz Champagne

1 splash Campari

1 cube Sugar

I drop of Angostura bitters

Place one drop of Angostura bitters on the sugar cube and drop in a champagne flute. Add the Champagne and a Splash of Campari.

Cosmopolitan

1 and a half parts Vodka

1 part Cointreau

1 part Cranberry Juice

A dash of Lime Juice

The rind of a Lime

Shake all the ingredients with cracked ice and pour in a cocktail glass.

Casablanca

3 parts white Rum

1 part Cherry Liqueur

1 part Triple Sec

1 part Lime Juice

1 Lime Slice

Shake all the ingredients with cracked ice and pour in a cocktail glass.

Long Island Ice Tea

Half an oz of Gin

Half an oz of White Rum

Half an oz of Vodka

Half an oz of Triple Sec

Half an oz of Tequila

One and a half oz of Lemon Juice

Coca Cola

Mix all the liqueurs and serve in a large glass filled with ice. Add just enough coke to give it the colour of tea.

Americana

1 teaspoon of Bourbon

Dash of Orange Bitters

Half a teaspoon of sugar

Champagne

Shake the first 3 ingredients well with cracked ice and strain into a champagne glass. Top with Champagne, not stirring and garnish with a peach slice.

  

Did you know....

The New Guinness World Record For The World's Largest Margarita & Cocktail was achieved by Jimmy Buffett's of Margaritaville And Mott's.

At the 1st Annual Phloridays Parrothead Phestival in May 2001, at Universal CityWalk in Orlando, Florida, a 7500 gallon polyethylene tank was filled with 5250 gallons of Margaritaville Margarita Mix (made by Mott's), 1313 gallons of Margaritaville Tequila and 437 gallons of Rose's Triple Sec, to create a new Guinness Record for the world's largest cocktail. At 7,000 gallons, "Big Rita", as it was affectionately called, broke the current cocktail and margarita records of 6,853 and 5,712 gallons, respectively.