Although the word cocktail didn't appear in print until the early 19th century, mixed drinks were popular during the formative years of the U.S.

Even George Washington had a favorite drink: the Cherry Bounce, a type of cordial common at the time. In fact, there's a written recipe for the cocktail in his estate's documents.

The way he drank it, this concoction consisted of macerated cherries soaked in brandy and complemented with sugar as well as spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves.

The mixture was infused and fermented for over a month, producing a sweet, tart, and boozy drink. However, the low distillation quality and sweet additions softened the boozy burn.