What exactly counts as a cocktail?

The answer

A cocktail is a mixed drink that combines a base spirit with other ingredients such as citrus juice, sweetener, bitters, liqueurs, vermouth or a mixer. Many classics follow a simple structure: something strong, something sweet and something sour or bitter, with a little dilution from ice. Some drinks are shaken, some are stirred and some are built directly in the glass. The result can be as simple as two ingredients or as layered as a drink with several house-made parts.