History of Cocktails🍸

Cocktails may be considered an American concoction, but its roots stretch back to the 18th century in London!

In 1869, the first British book containing cocktail recipes was published by William Terrington’s Cooling Cups and Dainty Drinks. His first cocktail was a Gin Cocktail made with Gin, Ginger Syrup, Aromatic Bitters and a splash of water.

In 1688, the most common causes of death were; cholera, dysentery, E. Coli and typhoid to just name a few, which are all water-borne pathogens. At the time they used the daily consumption of alcohol as a preventative. Who said alcohol isn’t good for you?!

As history becomes the past and modern times sneak forward we can only wonder how we managed to love cocktails so much.

By the 20 Century, ‘American Bar’ became part of the European Vocabulary. London hotels and restaurants tried to copy these bars but none of them would be as great as the Savoy. Sir Charles Henry Hawtry, the stage actor, was one of Ada Colemans regulars at the Savoy; one night when she mixed gin, Italian vermouth and dashes of Fernet Branca. Charles described the drink as a ‘real hanky panky’ and from that moment the famous cocktail ‘Hanky Panky’ began.

So why do we love cocktails so much?

Is it the refreshing taste of a Mojito, the creaminess of a Pina Colada or the sweetness from a classic Snowball?!

Down at Bar 62, the team love making all sorts of different cocktails, so why not get down there to remind yourself of why you love them so much!

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