Cocktails

Cocktails are mixed drinks in which a distilled alcoholic beverage forms the base, combined with one or more non-alcoholic ingredients such as water, juice, or soda, and often flavored with sugar, bitters, citrus, or aromatics. The defining aim is balance among the components, typically integrating alcohol, sweetness, acidity, and sometimes bitterness. They are usually served cold and may be shaken, stirred, or built over ice, then strained or topped with a modifier or fizz.

Origin and terminology: The word cocktail appeared in American usage in the early 19th century. Modern cocktail culture grew through the late 19th and early 20th centuries and experienced a revival in the late 20th and early 21st centuries focused on fresh ingredients, precise measurements, and technique. Classic cocktails are defined by standardized recipes and bar tools such as a shaker, jigger, strainer, and bar spoon. Ice and temperature are important for mouthfeel; shaking adds dilution and emulsification; stirring preserves clarity and texture.

Common families include sours (eg whiskey sour), highballs (eg gin and tonic or whiskey highball), and stirred spirit-forward drinks such as the martini and Manhattan; tiki and tropical drinks; punches; and non-alcoholic mocktails. Garnishes such as citrus twists, cherries, olives, and mint are traditional but optional. Glassware ranges from coupe and martini glasses to rocks, highball, and goblet, depending on serving style.

Today, craft cocktails emphasize seasonal ingredients, house-made syrups and bitters, and regional traditions. Cocktails are also available in non-alcoholic forms, sometimes called mocktails, which adapt the concept without spirits. The global bar scene includes varied regional styles and influences, from classic American to modern European and Asian traditions.