The cocktail story

The cocktail story

The moment you look at the title and flip to the next page, I know we’re going to connect in a special way.

“Love make world go round? Not at all.

Whiskey make it go twice as fast.”

Compton Mackenzie

C O N T E N T

Chapter 1

What is cocktail?

The origin of cocktail - the multi cultural beauty Type of cocktails - drinks, fruits and the art of decoration

Chapter 2

Main 6 base wines

Brandy - Flavory and precious Gin - A gentlement’s aura Rhum - Generous, strong and free Tequila - Mysterious, passionate, wild Vodka - Simple yet unique Whiskey - Transquil yet alluring

Chapter 3

The name of cocktails

The origin of cocktail’s names Kamikaze - Margarita Sidecar - Martini Tom Collins - Mojito Screwdriver - Gin and Tonic Bloody Mary - Mahattan

Chapter 1: What is cocktail?

Well, let’s just forget this question for a second and take a look at these colorful drinks in below picture.

Do you find it familiar?

Yes! That’s right!

Aren’t they beautiful?

These drinks are the cocktails that we‘re going to talk about.

Let’s find out a little more about them!

Wait...what is a rooster doing here?

Did you know?

Cocktail in Bristish English would literally mean a rooster’s tail (a cock’s tail).

Tracing back to the founding of America, when cock-fight is one of the most trending games at the time, the winner of the games would be rewarded with a feather from the cock which lost in the fight and a treat to drinks followed with a congratulation “on the cock’tail“.

Eventually, people start calling colorful mixed drinks coctail because of its resemblance to the vivid cock’s tail.

In 1749 – 1756, Kleriker Israel Acrelius, a Switzerland came to visit British colonies and report back more than 45 drinks made from wine, lime and sweet vinegar

In Britain and Western Europe around the 1800’s, a drinking culture was developing that was all about drinking and socialising. Suddenly drinking was not just about drinking, it was about meeting people and mingling

The Blance New York newspaper in 1806 described cocktail as: “a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind of sugar, water, and bitters…”

After WW2, follow the footsteps of American’s soldier in expeditions, cocktail became more popular worldwide

In 20th century, the infamous prohibition had the opposite effect of its intention, cocktail became even further standardized and thus be spread even further internationally.

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Type of cocktails According to statistic report, currently there are more than 10,000 different cocktail recipes.

So...how can we tell which is which?

Let look at some way to categorize the drinks into some main types:

Long Drink is an alcoholic mixed drink served in the amount of 200250 ml, a refreshing drink with a relatively low alcohol content (8-15%), made with the addition of a large amount of fruit juices, vegetables or other beverages (cola, tonic, soda water), separting into Aroma, Fruity, Fresh, Creamy.

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Short drink has a volume of up to 100 ml served in cocktail glass. Drinks of this type are stronge because the ingredients consist of strong alcohol, and prepared without diluting ingredients such as ices, herbs or fruits, cotegorized into Dry, Medium và Sweet.

Shooter & Shots typically consumed in a single sip or gulp, shots are generally prepared with only alcoholic ingredients without any mixers that dilute its alcohol strength while Shooter may have mixers to make it more flavorful.

The art of decoration You might have noticed the colorful displays and different types of glass used for each drinks.

Well it is worth knowing that decoration is also one of many important elements to a perfect drinks.

It is enough to add green olive to one drink, while another will be perfect for colorful umbrellas, fancifully cut fruits or aromatic herbs.

Fruit slices The most popular decoration technique in the art of bartending is decorating drinks with fruit. Pieces of lemon, lime, grapefruit, pineapple or orange are perfect for this. The cut slice should be put on the edge of the glass or glass. An interesting idea is also to cut the fruit with a cookie cutter of a non-standard shape, e.g. stars, hearts or Christmas trees.

Candied cocktail cherries The fruit can be thrown into the drink or cut and put on the edge of the glass. Its color can complement the composition or, on the contrary, contrast with it. Candied cherry can also be placed in a lemon slice. It is enough to stick a toothpick into the bottom edge of the citrus, then pierce the cherry with it, and finally bend the lemon in such a way that it closes the cherry on the other side.

Citrus spirals Unusual decorations for drinks can also be made of effectively twisted lemon, lime or orange peels. It is important that the citrus serpentine is as long as possible (12 cm and more). The peel of the fruit should be twisted and then fancifully wrapped around the straw.

Olives Popular in decorating various types of Martini.

They can be green or black, stuffed with pepper or paprika. It is enough to put the olive in the drink - a simple, classic and elegant way.

Glass The first and most important decorative element of drinks is the glass in which the drink is served.

There are many types of glasses: Bordeaux: for sirahs, malbecs, heavier red wines Highball or Tumbler cocktail glass: for long drinks Chardonnay: dry white wines Coupe: sparking wines, bubbly and cold cocktails Stemless: multiple shape for multi-wines type.

Sherry: Dessert wines like sherry and cordials Hock: German white hock wines.

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Chapter 2 Main 6 base wines Everthing started from something and cocktail started with the base wines that made up their main flavor

Flavory

and precious

Brandy

is a strong alcohol acquired though distiling wine or composting squashed fruits. Wines are usually made from grapes, cherries, apples, plums,... in wooden barrels. Wooden barrels gently oxidize Brandy creating light amber-like wooden color liquid with a comfortably dim scent Base on symbol on Brandy bottles, Brandy’s quality are divided into 4 category:

Apple Brandy

V.S (very special): is Brandy mixed from around 40 diffrent wine cellars and the youngest wine cellars should be at least 4 years.

V.O (very old), V.S.O.P (very superior old pale): is Brandy mixed from around 60 diffrent wine cellars and the youngest wine cellars should be at least 4-6 years.

X.O (extra old): the high class Brandy mixed from around 100 diffrent wine cellars and the youngest wine cellars should be at least 6 years.

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A gentlement’s aura

Many still believe that Gin is “a noble gentlemen” from England but actually Gin is a wine distilled in the Nerthelands. Gin are composted from cereal like wheatflour, barley, buckwheart.

What special about Gin is the scent of cinnamon, orange peel, lime peel, anise, cilantro, nutmeg, dahurica, etc. leaving its tasters an unforgetable flavor.

Gin

has 4 main types:

London Dry Gin: “Youngest kid” in Gin great family, distilled many times between wines and spicy flavor herbs, crystal-like transparent liquid.

Plymouth Gin: have both fruits and herbs flavor Old Tom Gin: Sweeter than “youngest kid” as more sugar are added in distilled process, the distilling time also takes longer.

Jenever Gin: “Dad – a gentlemen’s aura” in Gin family with the deep wooden color liquid with strong and deep flavor which cannot be mistaken with anything.

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Generous, strong and free

Rhum

was founded in the tropical areas and this wonderful tastes followed the sails of the pirates to every conners of the earth.

Easy to recognize how rhum are loved and welcomed in everywhere it goes. Nearly 4 century of journeying around the world, Rhum has the wildness of pirates and the same time the delicacy of the wine-lover nobles. Rhum has 4 common types: Light Rhum: Famous rhum created in Puerto Rico.

Gold Rhum: luxury golden yellow liquid and refinded yet deep fla vor.

Dark Rhum: black brown, dark color and floating scent of herbs mixing with aged-wood scent and sweet honey, caramel tastes.

Death Rhum: Very high concentration level (usually 70 – 80%) so many coutries prohibited the imported of this wines yet charmed by its taste, many willing to go against the law to dive into the world of Death Rhum.

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“99% of all problems can be solved by money, and for the other 1%, there is alcohol.”

Quentin R.Bufolge

Mysterious, passionate, wild

Tequila

is very mysterious.

To Nuhua people living in the centre of acient Mexico, Tequila in Nahuatl (or Aztec) mean a places to grow fruits tree. Nuhua people worship the agave trees as a descentdant of Mayaheul – godess with 400 breasts to feed her 400 children.

Tequila is distilled from a tree in Cactaceae family knowned as Blue Agave. This is the reason why Tequila has a hot attribute (eventhough all strong wines have concentration around 40%), creaing a very high-spirited feeling to tasters, especially the youngs. When talking about Tequila, people tends to picture it as a hot alluring yet wild, passinonate and surrounded in mysterious.

Tequila has clear white color for white/silver tequila or light gold color for gold tequila, gold color was from the composting progress in oak barrels from 1 to 7 years.

• Blanco (white) or Plata (silver) has clear white color, bottled right after distilation without composting or composted in steel or oak barrels no more than 2 months.

• Joven (young) or oro (gold) is a combination of blanco và reposado, with luxury gold color and more defined quality.

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Simple yet unique

Vodka

was founded in the icy-cold Northen Europe, one of the most populer drinks in the world. Eventhough its origin remain a mystery since both Poland and Russia is claiming that vodka came from their countries but that mysterious origin doesn’t seem to be of too important elements because to tasters, what appealing about Vodka is its obsessively appealing taste. Not too alluring and addictive at first tastes but just by being simple yet intimate, Vodka conquers is tasters with its unique inviduality.

Vodka is often called a “neutral grain spirit” because the standard method for making it is by fermenting and distilling grain. This can be corn, rye, wheat, or any other grain that the distiller chooses to use.

Potato vodka has long been a popular product of Poland and other potato growing regions, such as Idaho and Scandinavian countries. Vodka can be distilled from nearly anything, though and you will find vodkas made from things like beets and grapes.

Vodka is a rectified spirit, meaning that it is often distilled at least three times. Some are distilled five or more times. It has become common practice for a vodka brand to broadcast that their vodka has been distilled X number of times. The assumption is that the more times it is distilled, the cleaner and smoother it is. Generally, this is true. As vodka takes each trip through the still, the “heads” and “tails” are often removed. These are the parts of the distillate found on the top and bottom of a finished batch. By taking only the “heart” of the distillate, the vodka becomes cleaner and has fewer impurities.

After distillation, vodka may be filtered, often through charcoal. Vodka requires no aging and is ready to drink right away. However, it is cut with water from still strength to bottling proof, which is typically 40 percent alcohol by volume (ABV, 80 proof). Though less common, 100-proof vodka and higher are available.

The heat of vodka is another term you may hear. This is the burn that is revealed on the tongue or back of the throat when you drink it straight and another way of indicating a vodka’s smoothness.

Heat is often determined by the care a distiller puts into creating a clean vodka, particularly in the number of distillations and the filtering method. Less expensive brands tend to burn in the mouth and throat, while premium brands are generally smooth and subtle.

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Tranquil yet alluring

Whiskey

was first distiled in 15th centure and known by the name Aqua Vitae (the essence of water) in Ireland and Scotland, mainly used for sterilizing and pain-killing.In 1405, Whiskey was known as a drink to memorize the death of a chief. From then on, Whiskey has became well known and loved by many people.

There are many types of whiskey in the world, each have a unique flavor which you will need to spend sometime tasting and savoring to feel the taste and distinguish them.

One of a gentlemen’s favorites

Single Malt Scotch Whisky: high complexity, flavor and the price belong to top tiers of Whiskey Blended Malt Scotch Whisky: is a mixed og many types of Single Malt for the flavor of this type.

Single Grain Scotch Whisky: is cereal distiled Whiskey made from barley, bukwheat, corn, wheat, etc.

Blended Grain Scotch Whisky: used as a gift between master blender or used to blended and create a new flavor and Blended Scotch Whisky: a miture of Whiskey with ratio depends on each brand.

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Chapter 3

The names of cocktails Everything have a name, so does cocktails.

The origin of cocktail’s names

Have you ever wondered how your favorite cocktails and alcoholic drinks were first conceived and how they got their names? Cocktail mixology goes back to the 1860s when alcohol was originally being mixed with water, sugar, and bitters. Today, your favorite libations may have any number of things mixed into them, from fruit purees to syrups to sodas. Whether you’re a cocktail connoisseur or a casual bar patron, it’s always nice to know where your favorite alcoholic drink originally came from.

Kamikaze This popular shooter made its debut during the disco heyday of the 1970s. It’s name is either a reference to the suicidal Japanese kamikaze pilots of World War II, or the two typhoons that protected the Japanese from Mongol fleets in the 1200s. Either way, this drink will hit you hard.

Marrtini Martini is a mixture of gin and dry vermouth and despite James Bond’s famous line, it should be stirred instead of shaken. According to a general theory, in the early 1860s, people used to frequently go to the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco and order bartender Jerry Thomas’s special mixture of gin and dry vermouth before taking an evening ferry to the nearby town of Martinez, California. The bartender later named his signature cocktail ‘Martini’ in reference to the destination people headed to after consuming the drink.

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Tom Collins For some reason, in 1874, if you wanted to pull a great prank, you’d tell your friend that a man named Tom Collins had been spreading nasty rumors about him or her in a nearby bar. People would then run into the local pub and demand to see Tom Collins, much to the laughter (or confusion) of the bar’s patrons. It seems some pioneering bartender heard that joke one too many times and decided to make this refreshing gin cocktail.

That way the next time somebody ran into the bar demanding to see Tom Collins, the bartender could give him a drink.

Margarita There’s an old drink called the Daisy, which is a mix of brandy, triple sec, and lemon juice. According to legend, one day, a bartender in Tijuana was making a Daisy an d accidentally grabbed a bottle of tequila instead of brandy. The accident became a hit at the bar, and it was quickly dubbed a Margarita (the Spanish word for daisy).

Side car This jazz age staple was allegedly invented at Harry’s Bar in Paris. The story goes that during the end of World War I, an American Army captain would often arrive at the bar in a motorcycle sidecar. One cold night, he came in and asked for something to warm him up. So, the bartender mixed warming brandy with Cointreau and lemon juice and named the drink after the captain’s preferred method of transportation.

Mojito A primitive form of the Mojito can be traced back to the 16th century. This mix of mint, rum, sugar, and lime juice was originally made with a harsh liquor called aguardiente, the lime juice and sugar acted to cut the booze’s taste. The drink’s name is either a reference to the Cuban spice made from limes called mojo, or the diminutive form of the word mojado (the Spanish word for “wet”).

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Gin and Tonic Some cocktails actually have semi-medicinal origins. When British soldiers were stationed in colonial India, they had to deal with malaria.

They had a tonic water with quinine that would help keep the disease at bay, but it tasted terrible. So, the soldiers mixed it with gin and the Gin and Tonic was born.

Screwdriver The Screwdriver is a classic gateway drink for people just getting into cocktails. Surprisingly, its origins go back to Turkey in the late 1940s where American engineers working in Turkish oil fields would secretly add vodka to their orange juice. The engineers would then use a screwdriver to mix this easy to prepare drink.

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Bloody Mary The Bloody Mary was most likely invented by a restaurant owner in the early 20th century as a dark tribute to Queen Mary who was popularly known as ‘Bloody Mary’ because of her brutal and violent acts to re-establish Catholicism as the official religion of England.

Manhattan Manhattan is a blend of whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. The cocktail’s origin dates back to 1874 when Jennie Churchill, America-born British socialite threw a party at the Manhattan Club to celebrate Samuel J. Tilden’s, the 25th Governor of New York victory in the gubernatorial election. An enterprising bartender then created this cocktail for the event, which he dubbed the ‘Manhattan’ in the honor of the club.

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I like water especially in frozen cubes and completely surrounded in ...vodka.

People who wonder whether the glass is half empty or half full miss the point...

The glass is REFILLABLE

Nguyen Thanh Hoang Trang ntht.trangnguyen@gmail.com