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Lexicon

The largest wine encyclopedia in the world with 26,707 Terms.

0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Cocktail

Alcoholic mixed drink, the origin of the name (rooster's tail) of which there are at least 6 versions. The best-known version is derived from cockfighting, which was popular in the south of the USA in the 19th century. The tail feathers of the losing rooster were torn off and given to the owner of the winner. The victory and the trophy won were sealed with a drink "on the cock's tail". Later, the drink was simply called a cocktail.

A second version dates back to the US War of Independence in 1777, when Betsy Flanagan, a pub landlady in New England, favoured entertaining rebel soldiers. One evening, she mixed a drink of fruit juice and rum, which she decorated with a feather. This had previously been the centrepiece of a British soldier's cockerel. A young French rebel officer honoured the composition with: Vive le coq's tail! (Long live the cockerel's tail).

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