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The Salamander Ritual
"The salamander" is a drinking ritual that includes the knocking (and rubbing) of glasses on the table before or after drinking together, sometimes both. It is a widespread "Zutrinken" ritual among student associations, and less known outside the acadamic drinking...
The Fill Line And The Kefeloher
The filling line is a marking on serving vessels originally on beer glasses, later as well on wine and shot glasses, indicating the filling level for a specific volume. Anglo-Saxon and North American pint glasses have typically no filling line for the full glass, but...
JELL-O Shots
JELL-O is known today as "America's Most Famous Dessert." It was invented by a cparenter named Pearle Bixby and his wife. Both lived in Rochester, New York, in the small town of Leroy, where they run a local cough syrup manufacturing, rather unsuccessfully, until 1897...
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 gift of beer. ...
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 Vladimir's reign. According to legend, it was...
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 recipes were...
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. Following this alchemical pursuit, the process...
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 Whiskey Ring began...
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 drink while they are already about to leave - these...
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 beer and wine. Pasteur proved that microorganisms...
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 figurine is hidden in the stand of the goblet. If...
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 by "Fiducit!" (meaning "It applies") and in the following...
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 Amazon was introduced to the Dutch people in...
Paulanersche Doppelbock Brewed for Lent
The monastery of Neudeck ob der Au in Munich was founded in 1627 after the Bavarian Elector Maximilian I brought Paulaner monks from Italy to his country. The Paulaner order imposed strict fasting rules during Lent on its members, including that only liquid food to be...
The London Beer Flood
On October 17th, 1814, the parish of St. Giles, London, England, was hit by a catastrophe killing eight people in a flood of beer. The so called "London Beer Flood" was caused by a large keg containing over 135,000 imperial gallons (610,000 l) of beer that burst at...
Linie Aquavit
In Norwegian "Linie" means equator, and that is the name of one of the most famous aquavit brand's. The premium market leader from Norway is maturing their aquavit in barrels that are crossing twice the equator on a four-month journey at sea. In 1805 the Trondhiems...
The Whisky War
Canada and Denmark have been at odds over a small uninhabited island called Hans for decades. Both Canada and Denmark claim the only 1.25 square kilometer island without any vegetation for themselves. Since it is not clear who the stony rock belongs to, delegations...
Shaken, not stirred
The original Bond Martini ("Vesper Martini") was invented by author Ian Fleming for Casino Royale, the first James Bond book, in 1953. It is 3 parts gin, 1 part vodka and ½ part Lillet. It differs from a classic martini as it uses both gin and vodka, Kina Lillet...
