A Brief History of the Cocktail
From a 19th-century newspaper's first definition to Prohibition and the modern cocktail renaissance.
The first definition
The word 'cocktail' first appeared in print in 1806, defined in a New York newspaper as a mix of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters — essentially the template for what we now call an Old Fashioned.
The golden age
The late 1800s saw bartenders like Jerry Thomas popularize elaborate drinks and publish the first cocktail recipe books, cementing bartending as a serious craft.
Prohibition's strange effect
Prohibition (1920-1933) drove drinking underground into speakeasies, but it also spread American cocktail culture abroad as bartenders emigrated to Europe and Cuba, influencing drinks that are still popular today.
The modern cocktail renaissance
Starting in the 1990s and 2000s, a renewed interest in fresh ingredients, classic technique, and pre-Prohibition recipes revived the craft cocktail movement that defines most bar menus today.
Cocktails to try
Old Fashioned
The original cocktail. A spirit-forward showcase of whiskey, mellowed slightly with sugar and aromatic bitters.
Sazerac
A New Orleans original of rye whiskey and absinthe rinse, sweetened with sugar and bittered with Peychaud's.
Daiquiri
A pure, elegant expression of rum, brightened with fresh lime and softened with a touch of simple syrup.
Manhattan
A smooth, spirit-forward blend of whiskey and sweet vermouth, accented with aromatic bitters. Dark and mysterious.