COCKTAILS

 Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about 

Basic Cocktail Facts

What is a cocktail? A cocktail is an alcoholic drink made with one or more spirits mixed with other ingredients.

Where did the name “cocktail “come from? Cocktail culture is full of stories and often contested. When it comes to the word “cocktail”, theories range from a nickname for a French cocktail all the way to a horse suppository. Since the latter is more outlandish, I am going to go with that. Ginger was once used as a suppository to make a horse stick its tail up. If you had an old horse that you wanted to sell, you would insert a ginger in the horse’s behind so that it would ‘cock its tail up’ and look perky and healthy. This was referred to as a “cocktail”. Since alcoholic beverages can also provide a boost, the connection was made.

How many cocktails exist? There are six types of cocktails. Cocktails are variations of the Daiquiri, Old Fashioned, Martini, Sour, Highball, and Flip.

Why are some cocktails shaken while other drinks are stirred? The difference between the two is the level of dilution and texture the drink requires. The longer a drink is shaken or stirred, the more diluted and cold it gets. Cocktails made with spirits, tonics, and bitters should be stirred. Drinks that feature fruit juices, egg whites, cream, or cream-based liqueurs should be shaken. The ice beats it into a smooth texture before straining into a glass.

What country invented the cocktail? While the United States is often credited with the invention of the modern cocktail, Italy takes the prize. Roman Emperor Nero’s physician wrote a treatise in 77 A.D. about preparing medicines that included wines, alcohol, and bitters.

And as always have a chilled day from the Viking