Timeline
1786
Antonio Benedetto Carpano is the first to produce commercial vermouth in Turn, Italy. His recipe was known as "rosso" or sweet vermouth. Vermouth is a very popular ingredient in many cocktails today.
1796
Johann Gottlieb Benjamin Siegert is born at Grob Walditz in Silesia (modern-day Germany)
1800
Frenchman Joseph Noilly introduces a white-wine based 'dry' vermouth
1803
The term 'cocktail' appears for the first time in print in the New Hampshire Farmer's Cabinet
1806
The first published definition of the cocktail appears in the Balance and Columbian Repository
1820
Dr. JGB Siegert departs Germany with his family and settles in the small town of Angostura ("the narrows") in Venezuela, South America. He joins Simon Bolivar's Liberation Army and is appointed Surgeon General
1824
Dr. JGB Siegert develops his world famous secret recipe for Angostura® aromatic bitters. It is originally used as an elixir to cure soldiers' stomach ailments
1831
The first published cocktail recipe is written by Captain J.E. Alexander. It calls for the use of bitters.
1850
Dr. Siegert begins to export Angostura® aromatic bitters to England, the Caribbean and the USA.
1856
The term 'mixologist' appears in print for the first time published in a story by Charles Leland in an issue of "Knickerboxer" (a New York literary journal)
1859
The Sazerac Cocktail is invented in New Orleans, USA
1862
Don Carlos Siegert (son of JGB Siegert) exhibits Angostura® aromatic bitters in London, England. The Pink Gin Cocktail is created
Jerry Thomas publishes the first cocktail recipe book, "The Bartender's Guide: How to mix Drinks"
1870
Following the death of Dr. JGB Siegert, the Siegert family chooses to relocate to the Caribbean island of Trinidad. Here the sons, Don Carlos, Luis and Alfredo continue to establish the Angostura® aromatic bitters business and also begin to dabble in the distillation of rum
1873
Angostura® aromatic bitters wins the Medal of Excellence at the Grand Exhibition in Vienna, Austria
1874
The Manhattan Cocktail is invented at the Manhattan Club, New York at a banquet to celebrate the election victory of the Governor (Tilden).
1876
Angostura® aromatic bitters is awarded gold medals for product excellence at the World Trade Fairs in Philadelphia, USA
1882
Harry Johnson publishes his famous cocktail recipe book- "The Bartender's Manual"
1887
Jerry Thomas lays claim to creating the Martinez Cocktail, widely regarded to be the predecessor to the Martini
1896
Jennings Cox, an American Engineer working in Cuba, invents the Daiquiri
1900
Col. James E. Pepper claims credit for creating the Old Fashioned Cocktail and the Pendennis Club in Louisville, Kentucky
1911
The first Dry Martini recipe is mixed at the Knickerboxer Hotel in New York by head bartender Martini di Arma di Taggia. This original recipe called for orange bitters
1915
Ngiam Tony creates the Singapore Sling at the Long Bar inside Singapore's Raffles Hotel
1916
The Aviation Cocktail is created by Hugo Ensslin at New York's Hotel Wallick. The last significant cocktail before Prohibition in the USA
1920
Prohibition (the Volstead Act) is introduced in the USA, banning the production, sale and serving of alcohol. The consumption of alcohol and cocktails is forced 'underground'
1931
While the US cocktail industry languished under Prohibition, Europe flourished with many 'American-style' Cocktail Bars opening everywhere. Harry's Bar opens in Venice and was soon to become the birthplace of the Bellini
1934
Prohibition is repealed, by this time all other bitters produced in the USA ceased to exist. Only Angostura® aromatic bitters is strong enough to endure prohibition.
Cocktail culture swiftly re-emerges in the USA with Esquire magazine publishing "the 10 best cocktails of 1934". Vodka appears in a cocktail recipe in the US for the first time
1937
Victor Bergeron opens his famous "Trader Vic's" restaurant in Oakland, California
1944
Victor Bergeron creates the famous Mai-Tai Cocktail
1946
The Moscow Mule is created by John G. Martin and Jack Morgan at the Cock n' Bull Restaurant in Los Angeles. It is believed that this cocktail helped to kick-start the vodka craze.
1954
Rum returns to the mainstream in such drinks as the Piña Colada, attributed to the Caribe Hilton in San Juan, Puerto Rico
1967
For the first time, vodka is consumed more than Gin in the USA.
1979
The Long Island Iced Tea is created by Robert 'Rosebud' Butt
1987
Dale De Groff reopens the Rainbow Room in New York
1995
Harry Denton reopens the Starlight Room atop the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco
2005
Salvatore Calabrese opens Salvatore at Fifty in London. He is a modern-day legend having published 11 books to date.
2008
Angostura launches its orange bitters, the company's first innovation in almost 200 years. It is already considered the best orange bitters on the market
2009
A shortage in the glass bottle for Angostura® aromatic bitters causes a temporary shortage in availability of product. Bartenders panic around the world but the problem is quickly resolved.
2011
Andy Griffiths of Melbourne Australia wins the Angostura® aromatic bitters Global Cocktail Challenge and becomes the Global Brand Ambassador for Angostura® aromatic bitters
