SC - question after recipe
Jeff Gedney
JGedney at dictaphone.com
Wed Mar 8 09:18:27 PST 2000
The noble Cariadoc hath wrote:
> 1. At least one of the two cordial recipes that showed up here
> recently appears to be from a web page that specifically says the
> material on it is not from period sources. I don't think I have seen
> any suggestion that the other one is from a period source either.
I was not specifically referring to Cordial recipes, but offering a possibly
acceptable substitute for a period grain based aquavitae which might
more closely _simulate_ ( not replicate ) such an aquavitae as used
in some period "medicinal" recipes, or herb/fruit extractions.
Any cordials which might be based on those recipes might more closely
simulate the flavor, if neutral spirits derived form the same grains used in
the original are used.
> 2. Do you know if (non-potato) vodka is actually period? My
> impression is that distilled liquor for drinking is pretty late
> period in most of Europe, but earlier in a few places.
Not my point.
Just because Vodka as a subclass of spirits did not exist in period,
does not mean that certain members of that subclass might not
strongly resemble, in form, taste, or recipe, period spirits. Just that
the _classification_ of this kind of beverage as "Vodka", did not exist.
If a period Aquavitae was made from fermented grains of Rye, and
certain berries and spices, and then distilled and bottled without
significant aging or alteration, then a modern vodka recipe which
is made from fermented grains of Rye, and most of the same certain
berries and spices, and then is distilled and bottled without significant
aging or alteration woulds be an acceptable substitute for that
aquavitae.
I think it would be better than one made from distilled wine in that
recipe.
A clear brandy would be a good substitute for aquavitae made from
wine (essentially the same), but I do not think it would be as good a
substitute for a grain based aquavitae. as a good grain beverage (like
a new whiskey for a malt aquavitae, or a rye vodka for one of rye),
made from the same grains.
Close substitutes using commercial beverages are all we have to go
on, legally, in the US.
Therefore we cannot COMPLETELY make the period recipe, since
we do not have the option of making the required aquavitae in the US,
so we have to content ourselves with reasonable facsimiles.
brandu
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