Swizzle stick

Origin of: Swizzle stick

Swizzle stick

A swizzle stick is special cocktail stick for stirring alcoholic drinks dates from the late 19th century. It is now the only existing swizzle, a colloquialism for any alcoholic drink that dates from the late 18th century and which fell into disuse during the 19th century. Swizzle is thought to be a corruption from swig (a sip) and guzzle (to drink greedily). The 17th Regiment of Foot (The Royal Leicestershire Regiment) is on record in 1760 as having a ‘swizzle’ society, i.e. a drinking society.