Thursday, April 13, 2006

inner dork: the orgin of the cocktail

Did you know...

There are at least 14 different explanations for the orgins of the word "cocktail" and no one agrees on any of them as being based on fact.
However, here are a few of the most common theories.

Cocks that were being prepared for a fight were often fed bread made from a mixture of flour, stale beer, white wine, gin, seeds and herbs. This was to prepare the cock for the fight. The mixture was called "cock-bread ale" later is was shortened to "cock-ale" which of course became "cocktail."

In the 17th and 18th centuries beer was mixed with minced meat of boiled cock and other ingredients and was called "cockale" which evolved into "cocktail."

In 1926 a French writer claimed the word cocktail was derived from the french word coquetel, which referred to a mixed drink produced in the Bordeaux region of France.

Lastly, 'cock tailings' were once various liquers combined together into one bottle and sold cheaply.

Factoids:

The word "punch" is derived from Hindi meanin "five." The English colonists in India often used five ingredients when making a drink: rum, tea, sugar, lemon, and water.

Bourbon derives its name from Bourbon County, Kentucky which is where it was first produced. However, it is no longer produced in this county and the various counties in Kentucky where it is produced it is illegal to purchase it.

Trader Vic Bergeron created a new drink in Tahiti. It is said that after the friends tasted the drink they exclaimed, "Mai tai- roa ae!" meaning, "Out of this world- the best!" in Tahitian. This of course became the Mai tai.

How to make the perfect martini:

Tradtional: two parts gin to one part dry vermouth
Dry: five parts gin to one part dry vermouth
Extra dry: eight parts gin to one part dry vermouth.

One of my favorite movie lines of all time? "Why don't you get out of those wet clothes and into a dry martini." The line was originally said on a film set by actor Robert Benchley. It was next used in a Ginger Roger's movie.

3 comments:

THE DUKE said...

Well done! Well done.

David Casper said...

Bourbon, read this: http://latermeask.blogspot.com/2006/03/bourbon-blogging-03-04-2006.html

Martini, read this: http://latermeask.blogspot.com/2006/04/best-advice-i-can-offer.html

Anything you want to know about alcohol, just ask. But get me early, because the alcohol completely takes over and I become a different person. A far more attractive, more charming and invincible person, but a different person nonetheless.

And the quote is from Stand By Me.

Party Girl said...

wow, I don't think I've ever gotten actually compliments for my, inner dorks before.

*blushes* thanks.

Casper and ptg: yep. Congrats. Your reward will be posted on TNF. I hope you enjoy it.