Fancy names for fancy drinks

Who was Bloody Mary? Join us in exploring 10 drinks’ names

Credit: Timothé Durand

Nobody thinks twice about the contents of a drink if the name is Gin & Tonic. But what if you never had a Bloody Mary before, and are offered one? According to history, many popular cocktails were created during the Prohibition era when illegal alcohol was not the most palatable drink, and masking its flavor with other ingredients became a necessity. And, since these concoctions needed an appealing name, creative barmen and barwomen came up with many of the denominations we know today. Featured here are 10 of the most popular ones. Have you tried any of these?

Credit: Johann Trasch

While the real origin of this cocktail consisting of rye, sweet vermouth, and bitters is probably lost to time, the most popular legend is that the Manhattan was specially invented for a banquet hosted by Lady Randolf (mother of Winston) Churchill at the famous Manhattan Club in New York in the late 1800s.

But, when this supposed party took place, Lady Randolph was pregnant with Winston and living in England. So, even if it is a cool story, it is probably not true.

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These days, it refers almost exclusively to a cocktail of bourbon whiskey flavored with sugar and mint but, the word julep was originally borrowed from French to refer to a sweet-tasting or sweetened drink. Before then, it had Persian roots, and its original pronunciation, "gulab" essentially means sweetened rosewater.

The term was translated to "julab" in classical Arabic and then into Latin as "julapium." Eventually, the word would morph into "julep."

Credit: Gabriel Gurrola

To explain the origin of the Tom Collins cocktail, we must first introduce his brother, John: A John Collins is a mixture of London dry gin, lemon, sugar, and soda. If you replace the London gin with Old Tom gin, you have prepared a Tom Collins.

The Collins surname of this drink is said to come from a 19th-century headwaiter known as John Collins, who worked at Limmer's Hotel and Coffee House and is thought to be the inventor of the drink. As for the Tom part, its origin is lost to the ages.

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There are two leading theories as to where the name of the Mojito comes from. The first one holds that the name relates to mojo, a Cuban seasoning made from lime and used to flavor dishes.

Another theory is that the name Mojito is simply a derivative of mojadito, which is a Spanish word for "lightly wet", which would be the diminutive of "mojado" (wet).

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As the legend goes, a certain Count Negroni of Florence, Italy, once requested a drink that would stand apart from all the Americanos ordered at his usual neighborhood cafe.

The bartender answered his request with a cocktail composed of equal parts gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari, and he garnished the result with a telltale orange slice. Unfortunately for the count, the drink became as popular as the Americano, losing the desired exclusivity.

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This classic cocktail is named after the Cuban village of Daiquirí and, as the story goes, it was invented by local American mining engineers around the time of the Spanish-American War when they ran out of gin and had to use the local rum instead. The cocktail usually consists of sugar, rum, lime juice, and simple syrup.

The daiquiri is identified with revered author Ernest Hemingway, who drank this beverage during his stay in Cuba.

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James Bond's drink of choice is typically made with gin or vodka and vermouth. There are many stories about the origin of the cocktail and its name. The bartender professor Jerry Thomas of San Francisco, has claimed that it was invented by a stranger on his way to Martinez, California. Another story says it's named after Martini & Rossi Vermouth, because that brand was first used in the drink Gin and It, with one half gin and one half Martini & Rossi Vermouth.

Another story claims that it was named after a British army rifle, the Martini and Henry, which is known for its kick, like the drink. And the last one, says that it was created at the Knickerbocker Hotel in the early 1900s, by a bartender named Martini di Arma Tiggia that mixed a martini using only a dry gin and dry vermouth.

Credit: Luke Bender

The most widely accepted theory about the origin of the Margarita name says that bartender Carlos "Danny" Herrera supposedly thought up this drink around 1938 in Tijuana, Mexico. He created it for Marjorie King, an aspiring actress who he said was allergic to "everything except tequila."

After crafting something for King to drink, Herrera reportedly dubbed the drink margarita, which is a Spanish twist on Marjorie's name.

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Apparently, in the late 1800s, it became popular to introduce liqueurs into cocktail recipes. And the older, more basic recipes that omitted them, and in particular this classic mix of whiskey and bitters, became known as "old fashioned" cocktails.

People ordering drinks in this fashion wanted to stick to the basics and eventually the modifier "old-fashioned" became the name for this classic cocktail with a lot of variations. The classic version uses a bit of sugar or simple syrup, a splash or two of aromatic bitters, perhaps an ice cube, and rye whiskey.

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The most popular tale about this drink’s name links it to the English monarch Mary Tudor, whose nickname was, wait for it, "Bloody Mary", because of how many Protestant heretics she condemned to death.

Another theory suggests that the drink was concocted by a bartender at a Paris bar, where a patron who drank it dubbed it the Bucket of Blood, after a Chicago nightclub, with the name later developing into Bloody Mary.

FURRY WORKERS

From War Elephants to Medical Dogs: 10 Weird Jobs We Gave To Animals

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Throughout history, animals have played crucial roles that extend far beyond companionship or sustenance. From aiding in transportation to performing specialized tasks, their contributions have been diverse yet always essential.

Here, we explore 10 fascinating jobs that animals have undertaken across different time periods, proof of their remarkable intelligence and adaptability!

Credit: Artem Beliaikin

In medieval Europe, a unique breed of dogs known as 'turnspit dogs' were employed in kitchens to rotate roasting meat spits. Bred for their stamina and size, these dogs were crucial for keeping the spit turning for hours at a time.

Sadly, their breed is now extinct, leaving us to reconstruct their appearance solely from historical documents.

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Dating back to ancient times, pigeons were used as messengers due to their exceptional homing instincts. These birds excel at navigating over extremely long distances, thanks to their ability to perceive the Earth's magnetic field, just like an inner compass.

Particularly, due to their unique skills, these fluffy animals played crucial roles in wartime communication, delivering urgent messages across long distances when other means of communication were impractical or insecure.

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What animal could instill more fear on the battlefield than an enraged elephant? To make matters worse, steel blades were often fastened to their tusks, and specialized archers would relentlessly pick off infantry units from their backs.

Elephants were formidable weapons of war in ancient civilizations such as India and Persia. Their immense size and strength made them highly effective in breaking enemy lines and demoralizing opposing armies.

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In the port town of Eden, New South Wales, Australia, killer whales (also known as orcas) formed an unlikely but effective partnership with human whalers during the heyday of the country's whaling industry. From the 1840s through to the 1930s, pods of orcas were observed working together with whalers in a unique and mutually beneficial hunting arrangement.

These intelligent marine mammals assisted whalers by herding humpback whales, effectively corralling them and making them easier targets for human hunters. In return for their cooperation, the whalers honored a (clearly unspoken) agreement where the orcas were allowed the first bite at the carcass once the hunt was successful.

Credit: Martin Adams

How do you stop local populations of birds from colliding with arriving and departing planes at airports? By employing other birds! Trained birds of prey, such as hawks and falcons, are often used at airports to prevent bird strikes, which can lead to serious accidents and cost the industry millions of dollars annually.

These predatory birds naturally intimidate other species as they patrol the skies, discouraging other birds from entering the airspace around runways, thus minimizing the risk of collisions with aircraft.

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Beyond their crucial role in pollination, honey bees have found an unexpected application in the field of demining, particularly in war-torn regions where landmines pose significant threats. Due to their remarkable sense of smell, bees are trained to detect the scent of explosives buried underground.

In this innovative process, trained bees are incentivized with sugar water as a reward when they successfully locate the scent of explosives. This method allows demining teams to pinpoint potentially dangerous areas more safely and efficiently than traditional methods, minimizing risks to human deminers.

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In various military and research capacities, dolphins have been trained and utilized as "spies" due to their exceptional intelligence and underwater capabilities. These marine mammals have been employed by navies for tasks such as locating underwater mines, retrieving lost equipment, and even acting as sentries to protect naval bases.

Their natural echolocation abilities make them ideal for the task, and their agility and speed underwater allow them to maneuver swiftly in challenging environments where human divers would struggle.

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Trained dogs are now employed in medical settings to detect various diseases such as cancer and diabetes by sniffing out specific biomarkers present in patients' bodily fluids or breath. Their accuracy in early detection can significantly improve treatment outcomes and save lives.

These specially trained dogs undergo rigorous training programs where they learn to differentiate between scents associated with different medical conditions. Beyond their diagnostic role, they also provide loving comfort to those who are sick or grieving, and the therapeutic benefits of their presence in healthcare settings are proven.

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Geese have a long history of serving as effective guards, dating back to ancient civilizations where they were employed as vigilant "watchdogs" (avoid using this term near actual geese or they might get offended). Known for their loud honking and keen sense of alertness, geese were kept in temple courtyards, estates, and farms to alert their owners to the presence of intruders.

Today, geese continue to play a role in security, particularly at airfields and military installations. Their sharp eyesight and loud calls make them excellent sentinels capable of detecting and alarming personnel to potential threats.

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In environmentally conscious communities, goats are employed as eco-friendly lawnmowers. These voracious grazers efficiently clear overgrown vegetation without the noise and pollution associated with mechanical equipment. Goat herds provide a sustainable alternative for maintaining green spaces.

Beyond their practical utility, goats provide additional benefits such as natural fertilizer through their droppings, enriching soil health, and promoting plant growth.