I was shocked to learn this early this morning, but then again--this is Buffalo, NY and we are no stranger to booze.

Ever wonder why we call them cocktails? They literally started making gin mixies and put a rooster tail as a garnish in it.

It makes total sense. "The story goes, she said, that during the War of 1812 the tavern owner, Catherine Hustler, was kind to soldiers on both sides of the conflict and as a result, her business was the only place left standing after the burning of the village. When the Americans won the war, soldiers brought her cocks and hens to cook and she would save their feathers in a jar and place one in each special drink she served, which was thus named, the cocktail", according to Niagara-Gazette.

 

 

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