When did cocktails first become a common beverage?

Many people dispute where the cocktail came from, but the drink is assumed to have originated during the late 1800s. The drink can be created with a variety of different sugars and mixes, but the primary ingredient is always a liquor, such as vodka. Cocktail recipes date as far back as the mid 1800s. By the 1900s, the drink had become a mainstream beverage. Several people have added their own spin on the cocktail, creating drinks such as the Margarita. Pop culture has enhanced the notoriety of cocktails in the 21st century with references to the drink in books and magazines.