No one is sure about the origin of cocktail or even the word ‘cocktail’. But their are definitely some interesting theories that have developed over the years.
The first story takes us to Hall’s corners, New York. Back in the days of World War I, a bartender by the name of ‘Betsy’ served a drink called ‘Betsy’s Bracers’. A drink that was very pleasing to the eye due to the mixture of fruits and booze that was in it. Legend has it that while sharing this drink, one of the soldiers made a toast to her “Here is to this divine liquor which is not only delicious in taste but appealing to the eye like a cock’s tail”. I guess you can say that ‘Betsy’ was the creator of the first cocktail ever made and served.
But their is some controversy because another New York bar at the same time claims that the bar’s beautiful daughter Peggy came up with the drink and she used to serve sailors. After she got married to one of them they had a drink together and toasted one to their ‘future’. This was also the time that ‘cock fights’ were very popular and rumor is that people would go to bars after the fights and a lot bar tenders in that region started using the term ‘cock’ for their drinks to attract that customer base.
Some people also suggest that it was merry old England where the drink was first originated and than the ideas was taken to Mississippi where it literally blew up. Regardless of the origins, we all love a delicious cocktail and who ever invented it, I salute you!