| Cocktail refers to mixed alcoholic
drink. There are many versions about its origin, the most authentic of which
appears to be one about how in 1776 a bar in New York decorated itself with
colorful cocktails to attract customers. One day, a local gentleman came with
some friends to have a drink, After a few rounds he got slightly drunk and
called a waitress to order a "cocktail". The resourceful waitress mixed a few
drinks in a glass, added some water to weaken the solution so that it wouldn't
knock the gentleman out, and stuck a feather to the side of the glass when she
served it. The gentleman liked it so much that he regularly came for more, and
that was how "cocktail" came into being and got spread around. Cocktail can be
served all the year round, usually with ice cubes. There are dozens of different
mixtures with different color and taste. Gin, whisky, vermouth, vodka, mint,
wine, champagne etc. are usually used as base, with fruit juice such as orange,
lemon, ginger, and then shaken to make a cocktail. Sometimes apiece of fruit
like olive, cherry or berry is added for decoration. It is usually served in at
a temperature from 10 to 20 degree in a big wine glass. As it is difficult to
prepare and does not keep, and different people have different preferences, so
real cocktail is rarely served even at cocktail parties. Food served with cocktail include peanuts, cheese, French fries, and fried prawn chips. Sometimes sandwiches, cakes and sausages are also served. They are picked up with toothpicks. |