Cocktail vs. Mixed Drinks
after reading the Serious Cocktails article and this got me questioning -is there a difference between a true cocktail and just a mixed drink? for instance, is rum-n-coke a cocktail or mixed drink? the same for a bloody mary?
what are some of your favorite drink combinations? (so far, my favs are bloody marys and rum-n-cokes)
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8 Comments:
As far as I'm concerned, they are one and the same. Yes, I am aware of the fact that this statement may get me killed:-), but still. I'm quite certain that the term "mixed drinks" is relatively new, while "cocktail" is much older.
In general, I'd rather drink wine, actually. The few cocktails/mixed drinks that I may fancy from time to time are: gin & tonic (used to be my tipple of choice back in the uni days, less so now), real martini (no "cherry-tini" or "choco-tini" or whatever else people pour into martini glasses and call -tini, please), bloody Mary, golden margarita, and B-52 (although I'm perfectly fine with Baileys straight up). I may be forgetting something, but these are pretty much my "usual suspects".
brooke29 at 7:51PM on 03/11/09
In my own mind I always think of cocktails as being the fancier or sweeter drinks with more than 2 ingredients, and mixed drinks as the plain ones like rum-and-coke etc. The word 'cocktail' always seemed froufy to me for a simple martini or Manhattan.
For me, I tend to avoid too many ingredients and like my Whiskey with ice, my martinis dirty, and my margaritas on the rocks.
sadiepix at 8:08PM on 03/11/09
Good question. Personally, I grew up with the word "libation" which encompassed everything alcholic. @brooke29, gotta tell ya, I'm in full agreement with you, however, I would add sambuca on ice to the mix!
donnie at 8:45PM on 03/11/09
They are one in the same - synonyms. But then the words begin to play with your head - so if one goes to a Cocktail Hour is a glass of wine or beer considered a cocktail ? Not really, they are straight drinks. But if one orders scotch and water - that is a cocktail because it's mixed. But if you order scotch neat - then it's not really a cocktail but just another straight drink. OY !
Heck with the words - lets stick with Happy Hour !
Ribster at 6:26AM on 03/12/09
If you pay $4 for a rum and coke its a mixed drink. If you pay $12 its a cocktail.
bobbob at 7:52AM on 03/12/09
It's entirely possible that I'm wrong about this, but I've always considered a cocktail to be a manhattan or martini--strong combinations of all (or almost all) booze served (traditionally) in a smaller rocks glass or straight up. Booze with a mixer (rum and coke, gin and tonic, etc.) is a highball.
lovelybunny at 8:26AM on 03/12/09
No confusion, I'll have a beer!
dmcavanagh at 6:12AM on 03/13/09
a cocktail is served in a cocktail (martini) glass and can be served with appetizers. mixed drinks are multi-shapes and can be served with anything. (all cocktails are mixed drinks. not all mixed drinks are cocktails.)
blizcheetah at 12:45AM on 03/14/09