Distilling & Drinking History Blog
Versailles Treaty & German Cognac In 1896 the German distiller Hugo Asbach (1868-1935) took over the “Rhenish Cognac” company in Rüdesheim, Germany. Asbach continued the tradition calling wine brandy produced in Germany “Cognac” despite...
Distilling & Drinking History Blog
Tarascoe Mezcal In 1891 anthropologist John G. Bourke visited the Tarascoe people at Lake Patzcuaro in Mexico. He traveled to the see the famous coffee plantations of Uruapan, and to visit the ruins of a Franciscan School build in 1581 by Spanish conquerers. On his...
Distilling & Drinking History Blog
Dutch Courage The term “Dutch Courage” is used to describe courage that is gained from drinking alcohol. Franciscus Sylvius de Bouve (1614–1672), a Dutch chemist and alchemist, is often named as the “father of Genever”. Modern research though...
Distilling & Drinking History Blog
Great Heidelberger Tun The battle for the largest wooden barrel waged over the centuries between Germany’s Electors in a costly power struggle. In 1591, Johann Casimir commissioned the first of four “large barrels” for Heidelberg Castle. Followed by...
Distilling & Drinking History Blog
The Jahrtausendwein 1540 The “Jahrtausendwein” is a “once-in-a-millennium” vintage wine, a very valuable Riesling wine from the Würzburger Stein vineyard, Würzburg, Germany of 1540. The year of 1540 is mostly known for its desastrous drought in...
Distilling & Drinking History Blog
The Schwedenfass The so-called Swedish barrel, the “Schwedenfass”, is a wine barrel in the State Court Cellar in Würzburg, which is located below the Würzburg Residence. The “Schwedenfass” was created to host the famous...
