The earliest I found of the feather story was 1896 but I think I found it by accident I wasn t even looking for that so it may go back way further Still that s still almost 100 years from the purported birth of the cocktail which is mentioned 200 years before that by shakespear in Romeo in Juliet death cocktail He died in 1616 so we know the term was in use then Do nt believe me see it for yourself but what do I know i m not expert or even valuable enough to contribute without being reverted