White Wine Christmas Cocktail: The Homemade Recipe

Cocktails have become a staple of our evenings—so why shouldn’t they be a part of the holiday season too? Why not serve a special Christmas cocktail?

3 Fun Facts About the Origin of the Word "Cocktail"

"Cocktail"—what a strange word. If you look into its origins, it's hard to find a clear explanation. There are several theories, each one more outlandish than the last.

• Some say it’s a contraction of “peacock tail,” referring to the color of the blend.
• Another explanation has to do not with peacocks, but with horses. To distinguish draft horses from thoroughbreds, it was once customary to trim the tails of draft horses so that they stood straight up. As a joke, the remaining tuft of hair was then compared to a rooster’s tail. In English, to stand up like a rooster is called “to cock,” and tail is called “tail.” But what does this have to do with the cocktail as we know it? The animal expression was later applied to men whose morals were deemed questionable, and then to the alcoholic beverage resulting from a mixture of several ingredients and thus considered a hybrid.
• Finally, another legend claims that the word “cocktail” comes from the name of an Aztec princess who created fabulous drinks. Her name was Xochitl…

The recipe for “Petit Bouchon” from House Garden

House Garden is the new must-visit cocktail bar in Paris’s Charonne neighborhood. With Yann Salentin and Olivier Martinez at the helm—two enthusiasts who have been working in the restaurant industry for over 10 years—you’re definitely in good hands!

The concept is simple: offering signature cocktails with a low alcohol content (in line with the low ABV trend, or low alcohol by volume) to promote responsible drinking while highlighting seasonal flavors.

At this bar, almost everything is homemade, and even when it isn’t, you can rest assured that the ingredients are high-quality and sourced from small producers. What sets a House Garden cocktail apart from any other? The homemade syrups and herbs grown right in the bar, of course—not to mention the unique touch of their creators!