Absinthe
In the 20th century the consumption of absinthe spread amongst artistic and intellectual circles Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Baudelaire, Edgar Allen Poe and Ernest Hemingway are czounted in amongst those who popularized this drink.
"After the first glass you see things as you wish they were. After the second, you see things as they are not. Finally you see things as they really are, and that is the most horrible thing in the world". Oscar Wilde
Arak
In the 20th century the consumption of absinthe spread amongst artistic and intellectual circles Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Baudelaire, Edgar Allen Poe and Ernest Hemingway are czounted in amongst those who popularized this drink.
"After the first glass you see things as you wish they were. After the second, you see things as they are not. Finally you see things as they really are, and that is the most horrible thing in the world". Oscar Wilde
Armagnac
Armagnac is the oldest eau-de-vie produced in France.
Calvados
The Calvados region or department was created during the French revolution of 1790.
John Adams, the second president of the United States, drank cider at breakfast to relieve stomach pains.
Cassis
Cassis also known as Kir, was made famous by a priest, Felix Kir who liked to drink white wine with a blackcurrant flavoured liqueur The name of the priest was later used by the producer Lejay Lagoute to promote his Dijon Crème de Cassis.
Cognac
In 1870 "phylloxera vitifoliae", the viticulturists most feared enemy devasted vines in the Cognac region creating a huge crisis.
in November 11th 1918 Cognac was served to commemorate the signing of the Armistice which put an end to the 1 st World War.
Gin
the British troops which fought in Holland during World War 2 were given Gin or "Dutch courage" to drink.
in Índia Gin was mixed with quinine to make this antimalarial drug more palatable.
Ouzo
Throughout Greece you will find ouzeries, very popular, cheerful places where you might enjoy some gastronomic delights with your ouzo.
Rum
Rum is also known as "kill-devil".
It was not so long ago in 1969 that the British Navy stopped the daily rationing of rum on their ships.
George Washington freely distributed rum during his electoral campaign.
Tequila
The consumption of tequila rose in the U.S. during World War 2 at a time when it was difficult to obtain Alcoholic beverages from Europe
The famous cocktail Margarita, is made with tequila. José Cuervo was the first producer authorized to commercialize tequila, placing a worm in the bottle is part of the mythology created around tequila which in fact has nothing to do with the tequila making process and was done merely to impress tourists.
Vodka
In 1917 Vodka was banned from the Russian market as the result of the increase of alcoholism in the country.
The famous cocktails Dry Martini and Bloody Mary are made using Vodka.
After the Russian revolution the Bolsheviks confiscated all the distilleries in Moscow and the distillers fled taking along with them their secret recipes to start up elsewhere.
The chemist Theodore Lowitz invented a vodka purification technique using charcoal to filter vodka.
Whiskey / Whisky
Those considered to be the top10 whiskies are: The Macallan 18 years, Talisker 20 yerars, Springbank 35 years, Highland Park 18 years, Ardbeg Provenance, Macallan Gran Reserva 18 years, Lagavulin 16 years, The Macallan 50 years Old Millenium, The Macallan 30 years and Longmorn 25 years.
During Queen Elizabeth's reign Irish whiskey consumption increased in England.