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
Vital Du Four Cardinal Vital du Four (Vitalis de Furno) was a Franciscan theologian, scholastic philosopher, and alchemistic scholar in Southwest France from 1260 to 1327. He is known for his work “Liber selectiorum remediorum pro conservanda sanitate ad totius...
Distilling & Drinking History Blog
The Story of Madeira Wine Madeira is a Likörwine, a fortified wine with brandy added that is referred to in Portugal as Vino Generoso (or short Generoso). The origin of Madeira wine is originated in a historic accident when Madeira wine makes cut off the fermentation...
