A cocktail, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is 'an iced drink or wine or distilled liquor mixed with flavouring ingredients'. The definition is quite broad, but is an indication of the modern practice of referring to any drink mixed with alcohol as cocktail. The first ever definition of cocktail which was published read 'cocktail is a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water and bitters'. This is what many people feel is the ingredients of an ideal cocktail

It's been a common practice for many centuries for people to be mixing drinks, but the 17th and the 18th centuries saw the precursors of Cocktail becoming so popular as to be given a mention in history. However, people don't know where, who and what were involved in the making of the first Cocktails, but it seems to be that it was a particular drink, rather than a mixture of many drinks.

The first ever reference to cocktail was published in the Farmer's Cabinet. This satirical editorial mentions a 'lounger' who has just been through a 11 PM hangover, and 'drank a glass of cocktail - excellent for the head'.

Mocktails is an abbreviated form of the word 'mock cocktails' and is a non - alcoholic party drink which is generally consumed during parties. Mocktails are generally made for people who don't consume alcohol. There are a wide variety of mocktails; frozen, hot, fizzy, non - fizzy, and cream based recipes.

One of the classical mocktails is the Shirley Temple, which is a mocktail made especially for children. It's named after the popular child actress and has lemon - lime soda, maraschino cherry garnish , a dash of grenadine and ginger ale. The Roy Rogers is also a popular mocktail, this mocktail being named after a straight - laced singing cowboy. The Roy Rogers comes about by putting a dash of grenadine to cola and given a amaraschino cherry garnish.

All types of Daiquiri can be used to arrive at a mocktail. To get a raspberry Daiquiri without the alcohol, get some ice, raspberry puree and lime juice and mix them up. Put them into a glass and garnish it with raspberries.

Mocktails is quite a popular alternative to alcohol beverages and gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy the party without engaging in any irresponsible behavior. A lot of mocktails are mixtures of fruit juices and also have herbs, spices, etc. As mocktails don't have an alcoholic content, there's no - one who can't enjoy a cuppa' mocktail!