Mixed drinks are often mistaken for cocktails. We blame liquor marketers for this faux pas, though admit that the definition of a classic cocktail also adds to the confusion.

A mixed drink is usually a single spirit combined with fruit juice served over ice in a tumbler. Mixed drinks usually try to hide the alcohol taste behind a mixer and are often served with a straw or swizzle stick. The screwdriver is a mixed drink.

The cocktail, by contrast, is more refined, contains more ingredients, and requires higher levels of preparation and presentation. (Which is why on airplanes you can order mixed drinks but not cocktails.)

A cocktail usually calls for fresh fruit, bitters, and a sweetener, as opposed to a mixed drink, which simply requires juice. A cocktail is usually flash-chilled [665k .mov] and should be sipped briskly. It is small, clean, and compact.

The term "mixed drink" hails from the '70s and, much like that decade, it's gauche - occasionally in a good way. Mixed drinks referencing any sexual act are always best avoided. These mixed drinks are crass, often acting as props that you carry around with you in a bar as a conversation starter. A cocktail, by comparison, sits with you at your table and speaks volumes about your taste and the company you keep.