Mbaba Mwana Waresa

Mbaba Mwana Waresa The Zulu people of Southern Africa worship a goddess called Mbaba Mwana Waresa. The goddesss lives in the rain clouds, in a round hut made of rainbow arches. She is the goddess of the rainbow, rain, harvest, agriculture, and she gave the Zulus the...

Drinking is the joy of the Rus

Drinking is the joy of the Rus Vladimir I. Swjatoslawitsch (960-1015) was Grand Duke of Kyiv from 978/980 to 1015. He is considered the most important prince of Kievan Rus. The Christianization of Kievan Rus’ in 988 is the most important event during...

Weißenau Abbey

Weißenau Abbey The Premonstratensian monastery in Weissenau was founded in 1145. In its abbey was found the parchment manuscript no. 761/765 from the 12th century. At the end of this manuscript text was a trimmed sheet hidden in the cover with various recipes. The...

Is Aqua Vitae Whiskey?

Is Aqua Vitae Whiskey? Unveiling the Origins of Distillation and Aqua Vitae, the ‘Water of Life’ Alchemists across diverse ages and cultures sought the philosopher’s stone, a legendary elixir believed to grant immortality and cure all ailments....

The Whiskey Ring

The Whiskey Ring The Whiskey Ring was a political scandal in 1875. The scheme started with distilleries bribing government officials, and these officials helped distillers to avoid federal taxes. After the Civil War whiskey tax increased to 70 cents a gallon. The...

Stirrup Cup

Stirrup Cup The last drink that is drunk at an event is referred to as a “stirrup-cup”, “dochan doris” or “Scheidebecher”.  A stirrup cup (also stirrup glass) refers to the process of saying goodbye to guests and handing them a...

Pasteurization – a study of beer and wine

Pasteurization – a study of beer and wine Louis Pasteur (1822-1895)  invented the process of pasteurization. Pasteurization has become synonymous with dairy products, but Louis Pasteur made his most famous discovery studying the fermentation and the souring of...

Hansje in de Kelder (Hansel im Keller)

Hansje in de Kelder (Hansel im Keller) Hansje in de Kelder (German Hansel im Keller) translates to “Hans in the cellar”. It is a baroque joke goblet from the Netherlands that has a figurine hidden which appears when pouring liquid into the goblet. The...

Schmollis & Fiducit

Schmollis & Fiducit In student associations, the term “Schmollis” (also: Smollis, Schmolles) is used since before 1795 to initiate a drinking ritual called “Brüderschaft”, meaning “brotherhood drinking”. Schmollis is confirmed...

Advocaat – the Holiday Likör

Advocaat – the Holiday Likör Dutch Brazil (also New Holland) was a Dutch colony in northeastern Brazil from 1630 to 1654. So it may not surprise that in the 17th century, the Brazilian drink “Abacate” which was brewed by the indigenous people of the...