alcoholic mixed drink
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Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Cocktail
Cocktail - Wikipedia
August 28, 2025 - A cocktail is a mixed drink, usually alcoholic. Most commonly, a cocktail is a combination of one or more spirits mixed with other ingredients, such as juices, flavored syrups, tonic water, shrubs, and bitters. Cocktails vary widely across regions of the world, and many websites publish both ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/cocktails › cocktails vs. mixed drinks: what's the difference?
r/cocktails on Reddit: Cocktails vs. Mixed Drinks: What's the Difference?
February 15, 2015 -
I'm a cocktail beginner but I've been considering this question for about a week In my opinion there is no "right" answer and it's subjective to each person, but I need to ask the question.
I've heard some use criteria like:
number of ingredients
types of ingredients
effort required
cost
What do you think?
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Tl:dr All cocktails are mixed drinks, not all mixed drinks are cocktails. The first use of the word "cocktail" was in a newspaper article around 1806. The author used the word in reference to a specific drink he had containing whiskey, sugar and bitters. It caught on and evolved to refer to any spirit mixed with bitters and sugar. An old fashioned is a prime example of a true cocktail. The word cocktail has continued to evolve over the last two hundred+ years and nowadays is fairly synonymous with the term mixed drink. Most people don't know or care to make a distinction. I do. A cocktail is a specific formula. Sugar, bitters, spirit. A mixed drink is any beverage, alcoholic or not, that contains more than one ingredient. By this definition a martini is a mixed drink, not a cocktail. The word cocktail has been abused throughout the years, but it has also shown the world a beautiful kind of magic. What would the world be like without cocktails? All the credit should go to that first mixed drink. "The" cocktail. That one recipe, which would eventually become the old fashioned simply to protect its existence as the masses continue to bastardize the word. That one recipe that has fathered all recipes. But like most dads he never takes the credit he deserves. I respect that. I wish more people did. I may or may not have a sore spot about it.
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A mixologist makes mixed drinks, a cocktologist makes cocktails.
Videos
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Do you know the difference between cocktails and Mocktails ...
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The John McClane, BUT is it a Christmas🎄Cocktail? - YouTube
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42 Cocktail Types Explained 🍸 The Ultimate Guide to Cocktail ...
cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink. Most commonly, a cocktail ...
CROSSIP
crossipdrinks.com › blogs › news › difference-between-cocktail-and-mocktail
Difference Between Cocktail and Mocktail & Why it’s Important
December 28, 2021 - Note how it says “spirit of any kind”. We also think that “stimulating” is a key word here, since a cocktail is often considered a sophisticated drink for adults. In other words, cocktails should excite us and invigorate the senses. Some of you might be quick to point out that many definitions of cocktail include the words “alcoholic spirits”. We’d argue that, with the growth of the sober-curious trend in recent years, the alcohol industry has undergone dramatic transformation and innovation has been at an all-time high.
Quora
quora.com › Cocktails-do-not-taste-very-alcoholic-Is-this-intended-to-deceive-people
Cocktails do not taste very alcoholic. Is this intended to deceive people? - Quora
Answer (1 of 5): Cocktails are recipes just like meals. Penna a la vodka doesn't taste like very bland plain unseasoned pasta for a reason and it's not to fool anyone. In all recipes the purpose of mixing different flavors and textures is to provide a product that is better than the sum of its pa...
Mingle Mocktails
minglemocktails.com › home › blog › the difference between cocktails and mocktails: bartending tips for non-alcohol drinks
Cocktails vs. Mocktails: Here's the Difference | Mingle
December 13, 2024 - Whether you're hosting a party and want to serve some festive drinks, or you don't feel like drinking alcohol today, this article will come in handy. A cocktail is an alcoholic drink made with spirits, while a mocktail is a non-alcoholic drink ...
East Park
eastpark.co.uk › home › cocktail vs mocktail | what's the difference?
Cocktail vs Mocktail | What's The Difference?
Cocktails being alcoholic have an age limit for consumption and they can be quite diverse with various popular cocktails like the mojito or piña colada. In contrast the absence of alcohol in mocktails makes them suitable for all ages. Making delicious mocktails is straightforward as you typically ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/cocktails › define cocktail
r/cocktails on Reddit: Define cocktail
July 11, 2023 -
I have worked in the UK hospitality trade for a long time now and today is the first time I have had to really think about this question. Thank you to the fine owner of an incredible bar in my home town for the afternoon drink topic.
How do you all personally define what a cocktail is?
In the UK according to the licensing law a cocktail is - a mixed drink that contains 3 or more different ingredients. (This has always been used as the base of my personal definition.)
But according to common lore a cocktail is - a mixed alcoholic beverage that is not a list of the ingredients involved eg. Gin and tonic.
By UK law an Americano or classic martini would not be classified as a cocktail, but by common lore this is perfectly OK.
Just wandering what definitions you all work to around the world to classify something as a cocktail rather than a mixed drink?
Top answer 1 of 5
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I'm not a professional, but here's my understanding of it. A mixed drink is pretty much a two-ingredient drink that doesn't require preparation (shaking or stirring). A rum & coke or gin & tonic is a mixed drink. A cocktail is an American invention, and one of the earliest is the Old Fashioned, because it was an "old-fashioned cocktail." So originally it was spirit, sugar, bitters, stirred with ice. There are lots of competing definitions of the etymology of cocktail, but one of the more convincing is from Peychaud circa 1795, serving his brandy toddies in French egg-cups, and those cups were called cocktays in English. So I'd say a cocktail is everything more complicated than a mixed drink: usually at least three ingredients and needing some preparation like stirring in a mixing glass or shaking in a cocktail tin.
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They’re all cocktails. What you describe as a “mixed drink” is a category of cocktails known as the highball.
Food & Wine
foodandwine.com › cocktails-spirits › bartenders › what-is-the-difference-between-a-cocktail-and-a-mixed-drink
What Is the Difference Between a Cocktail and a Mixed Drink?
May 25, 2022 - That said, how precisely they're defined is also up for debate. "A mixed drink has a minimum of two ingredients, but once you get to a third ingredient, it's a cocktail," says Keith Meicher, head bartender at Sepia in Chicago, who was behind the stick pouring vodka sodas (a mixed drink) and shaking gin with rhubarb and lime (a cocktail) when I asked him this question.
Tempered Spirits
temperedspirits.com › advice-for-the-cocktail-novice-in-atlanta › what-is-a-cocktail
What is a Cocktail? – Tempered Spirits
April 6, 2013 - Booze = Primary source of alcohol — liquor, liqueurs, fortified wines, etc. Sweetener = Sugar, Simple Syrup, Liqueur, Fortified Wines · Flavor = Bitters, Liqueur, Citrus Juice, Herbs, Fortified Wines ... The only tricky bit here is that some ingredients cover two categories at once — liqueurs, for instance, might act as the main sweetening agent and provide a significant flavor in one drink, while they’ll add just a touch of interesting flavor to another.
Crimson Cocktail
crimsoncocktail.com › home › bartending & mixology › are all cocktails alcoholic? does your dirnk need booze to be a cocktail?
Are All Cocktails Alcoholic? Does Your Dirnk Need Booze to Be a Cocktail? | Crimson Cocktail
Not all cocktails are alcoholic! In fact, there’s an entire world of sophisticated, carefully crafted beverages that deliver all the complexity and presentation of traditional cocktails—minus the alcohol.
Published January 19, 2025
Sahyadri Hospital
sahyadrihospital.com › blog › is-cocktail-alcoholic
Is Cocktail Alcoholic? All You Need to Know
April 27, 2025 - You need to enable JavaScript to run this app
Reddit
reddit.com › r/cocktails › what does and doesn’t count as a cocktail?
r/cocktails on Reddit: What does and doesn’t count as a cocktail?
June 9, 2021 -
I heard that highballs are not considered cocktails, but the reasons I heard are unsatisfactor to say the least.
If it’s because of too few ingredients, then the martini, black russian and godfather are not cocktails either, because they are also only two ingredients
If it is because of too few alcoholic ingredients, then a daiquiri, mojito, Tommy’s matgarita and bee’s knees are not cocktails, because like highballs, because they only have one alcoholic ingredient.
If a mixed drink only needs one alcoholic ingredient and one additional ingredient, then there are some mixes that are even less of a cocktail e.g. shandy(beer and lemonade). What if I add citrus to wine? Is that a cocktail?
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Just my two cents: To me, it's the intent. A cocktail is meant to create an enjoyable combination of flavors to make something new to enjoy. Whereas a mixed drink is liquor being disguised with a mixer to down play the taste of said spirit. Yeah, I know it's arguable, but hear me out. I believe there was a thread in either r/bartenders or r/cocktails where a user complained that not many bars knew how to make a Cuba Libre, and instead made, well, Rum&Coke. I'm going to show a couple of different variations that I mentioned in said thread, and I invite everyone to decide where to draw a line between mixed drink and a proper cocktail: Case no.1 2 oz White Rum 4 oz Coca Cola Build on a glass Case no.2 1½ oz Rum 3¾ oz Coca Cola 1 (lime/lemon) quarter Build on glass, squeeze the lime and drop it inside Case no.3 1½ oz Aged Rum 2 dashes Angostura Aromatic Bitters 3¾ oz Mexican Coca Cola 1 lime wedge Build on a chilled collins glass, press and discard the lime wedge, garnish with a lemon slice or peel. Case no.4 1¾ oz Rum blend ½ oz lemon juice 1⅓ oz cola syrup Top with Brut champagne Shake all ingredients minus the champagne. Then strain into a chilled double old fashioned glass, top with the Brut champagne and garnish with a lemon peel. Again, you decide what recipe is a cocktail through and through and which one should be cast into the dephts of the mixer hell. It's kind of an entrepenurial conclution, but the history of cocktail definition has always been murky, some people still argue on the etymology. I know this is still kind of a shady conclusion, after all, there are cocktails (like the Long Island Iced Tea) where you technically arent supposed to taste the alcohol. I find it kinda fits, given the already murky nature of said line, feel free to disagree. tl;dr A mixed drink is planned as a mixer, a cocktail is planned as a cocktail, IMO.
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just enjoy your drink...
Flaschengeist
flaschengeist.com.au › home › news › news
What is cocktail? An Essential Beginner's Guide
May 16, 2023 - A cocktail is a mixed drink that contains at least three ingredients. These ingredients typically include a base spirit, a sweetener, and a bitter or sour element. Cocktails can also include garnishes and other flavorings to add complexity and ...
Facebook
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What is the difference between a cocktail and a mixed drink?
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The Cocktail Novice
thecocktailnovice.com › home › cocktails vs. mixed drinks: what’s the difference?
Cocktails vs. Mixed Drinks - The Cocktail Novice
April 2, 2016 - For me the term cocktail means an alcoholic beverage that requires care and effort in creating. So all cocktails are mixed drinks, but not all mixed drinks are cocktails. So the basic ingredients of a Gin & Tonic served in a glass is considered a mixed drink, while the application of care (type ...
Patron Tequila
patrontequila.com › stories › what-is-a-cocktail.html
What is a Cocktail? | PATRÓN TEQUILA
Cocktails are everywhere—from speakeasies and rooftop bars to your friend’s at-home bar—but what truly defines a cocktail? At its core, a cocktail is a carefully crafted blend of alcoholic and non-alcoholic ingredients, creating a drink ...
GREY GOOSE
greygoose.com › faqs › cocktail-vs-mocktail.html
What is the difference between a cocktail and a mocktail? | GREY GOOSE
A cocktail is a drink that contains alcohol while a mocktail contains no alcohol. The latter gets its name from being a “mock” drink that mimics a cocktail, but without the spirits. Explore all our cocktails to find your favorite.
Quora
quora.com › Whats-the-term-for-a-cocktail-that-has-more-alcohol-than-mixer
What's the term for a cocktail that has more alcohol than mixer? - Quora
A good example is a Negroni which ... in alcohol. Near as I can tell from historic recipes they were usually about 20 to 35 per cent ABV, when mixed. (remembe......
Curaçao Liqueur
curacaoliqueur.com › articles › spirits-education › the-origin-of-the-world-cocktail
What's the origin of the word "Cocktail"? | Senior's Liqueur
In the May 13th edition of the ... water, and bitters”. Therefore, we can conclude that, at least in the U.S., a cocktail was known as a type of alcoholic beverage....
Food Republic
foodrepublic.com › 1326638 › difference-between-cocktail-mixed-drinks
There's A World Of Difference Between Cocktails And Mixed Drinks - Food Republic
June 29, 2023 - It's a balancing act of complexity. A cocktail can include a variety of diverse ingredients, from fruits and fruit juices to sodas, syrups, and bitters. In fact, cocktails can also be made without liquor.