SC - Brandy

[Crystal A. Isaac]

I have to disagree with you, Lord Ras. 

According to Gregory Austin's (who I admit is a doubious source, he
reiles *far* too much on poorly documented teriary sources) survey,
_Alcohol in Western Society_ in 1400's Germany it was illegal to serve
brandy to your guests. This was some sort of supmtuary law as well as
trying to limit public drunkeness. There is also some documentation for
excessive brandy drinking in Italy. 

There are instructions for distilling in Curye on Inglysch, I think some
cooks would have made brandy to produce the famous fire breathing
subitiles.

I'll argue more tomorrow after looking at my sources tonight.

Crystal of the Westermark

LrdRas wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 1/19/98 1:04:30 AM Eastern Standard Time, stefan at texas.net
> writes:
> << When is the first evidence of brandy being used in food?

snip
I (Crystal) know of none in the middle ages. Bue I'm sure I just haven't
found it yet.

> 
> I do not have the information you request above, however, I think I should
> point out that throughout the Middle Ages distilling was the prerogative of
> the alchemists and, secondarily the apothecaries, IIRC.  Distilled products
> and the liqueurs produced from them were produced almost entirely, if not
> completely, for medicinal purposes.  They were not, IIRC, used in culinary
> pursuits or for leisurely drinking.
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