If you approach the question of the world's first cocktail recipes only in terms of chronology, the palm can be sure to give the Chinese. Three thousand years ago, they were drinking beverages made from natural berry juices, mixing them with snow and ice. But to call juice, mixed with ice, cocktail venture far from everyone, because we know some of the drinks are prepared from more than ... two hundred different components! The word "cocktail" is probably of European origin. The British maintain that before the so-called "cock beer» (cock-ale) - a mixture of hard-alcoholic drinks and bitter liqueurs, which was used to raise the spirit of fighting cocks before the fight. And the French from the province of Bordeaux have expressed the view that it comes from the word «coquetel» - «a mixed drink."
Serve cocktails at various receptions and festivities began about another two hundred years ago, but the universal popularity of these drinks have earned only after the adoption in the U.S. "dry" law. In the 20 years of the last century, not all owners of American bars and restaurants dare to take risks and offer visitors a "pure" alcohol, but the mixture of drinks could also add the rum and whiskey, and brandy, and tequila ... then without risking to be found to be illegal actions.
Not difficult to guess that there are huge number of different classifications of cocktails, but first and foremost all the mixed drinks are divided into alcoholic and nonalcoholic. Many recipes have found their own after the invention of "life" and are now known to us under their original names.
For example, the grog - is an invention of British sailors. In the XVIII century, all who served in the Royal Navy of Britain, every day, issued a strong dose of rum. However, when the command of British naval forces took Admiral Edward Grog, this tradition has been seriously disrupted. In order to save, he ordered the sailors to issue rum diluted with water. And since many drinks based on rum in his honor called "grog".
Here is one recipe grog: a glass of strong sweet tea, add a teaspoon of brandy and a tablespoon of rum. After that, the components are mixed, bring to a boil and pour into cups. Grog - a hot drink, so it is served hot.
Name another famous cocktail, punch, comes from the ancient Indian word "lady", which means "five". The structure of this punch must include five major components - the wine, rum, fruit juice, sugar or honey and spices (cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, bucket or other). Punch as well as a hot drink grog, but during the preparation did not boiled (wine and spices can not be heated above 80 ° C).
To prepare the punch in an enameled saucepan heated wine with sugar (honey) and spices. At the same time in separate dishes squeezed lemon juice or orange, and some citrus only cut into wedges. When the wine reaches the desired temperature, it is poured into a pre-warmed bowl and mix it with juice, pieces of fruit and rum.
Punch usually made of light table wines, which add to the fruit (any), sugar, cognac and champagne. Drink it always cold. Fruit is carefully selected for the drink, shift into a glass or porcelain vessel and evenly lace the sugar, then cover with a lid and put on ice. Then should not wait until they will not let fruit juice, and sugar has dissolved completely.
Ten minutes before you serve the drink on the table container and pour in chilled fruit wine and a small amount of brandy or rum (for flavor). And already at the table before you pour a drink by the glass vessel is added to a little very cold champagne. Punch poured a large glass or porcelain spoon, grasping with a liquid and a little fruit.
Another well-known recipe for a cocktail called mulled wine. This is a hot drink and cook it from the wine with sugar, fruits and spices. To make good mulled wine should take a bottle of semi-sweet red wine and pour it into an enamel saucepan. Then the wine is usually added 50-70 grams of raisins, a little cinnamon, ginger, cloves and cardamom. Also in the mix is put 100-150 grams of sugar and the peel of one lemon or orange. After this mixture is heated to 80 ° C and allow to steep for an hour.
Mulled wine - a great drink for patients in recovery from infectious diseases, some fans drink it, even after suffering flu. But the disease - not the best excuse to experiment with different drinks, because they enjoy the wonderful flavor and can be as healthy and spirit, and body.
