That can feel like a somewhat superfluous question, but it is important to distinguish what exactly makes a cocktail from simply pouring some spirit into any old soda.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eTechnically speaking, the Oxford Dictionary defines a cocktail as an ‘alcoholic drink that consists of a spirit (or spirits) mixed with other ingredients'.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis delightfully vague and open definition covers pretty much any kind of mixed alcoholic drink that we have discussed. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSo long as a spirit is mixed with some other ingredients, such as cream, tonic water, other spirits, or citrus juice and/or flavors.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSo, technically, yes. That vodka and coke that you order from the bar would u003cemu003etechnicallyu003c/emu003e count as a cocktail.