SC - re: cordial research

[Daniel W Stratton]

I shared a bit of the cordials discussion with my friend Bruce (THL Nigel
FitzMaurice), and he wanted to respond in general, so feel free to
contact him directly. - Ian Gourdon

Greetings
    Here is the text of the reply I attempted to the Cooks List. Perhaps
you could forward it on?
Nigel

- -------- Original Message --------
Subject: Early Cordials
Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 01:35:03 -0400
From: "Bruce R. Gordon" <obsidian at raex.com>
To: sca-cooks at ansteorra.org

Greetings
	Please forgive the intrusion, for I am not a member of the list. A
friend 
of mine who is (Ian Gourdon) forwarded me the message below, and I felt I
ought to 
make a comment.
	It depends to a large extent on what you mean by "Cordial". I have been 
doing extended research in this area, and some of the things I have 
encountered:
1). Benedictine as a proprietary brand dates from 1509 (i.e. Benedictine 
was being produced commercially and sold under that name from the early 
16th century). -- tertiary source --
2). I have uncovered a recipe for Aqua Vite (containing among other
things very explicit directions for how to distill it) dating from the
period 1400-1450. -- primary source. online as #9 at
http://web.raex.com/~obsidian/precwat.html --
3). I have also a very strange-tasting concoction (I've made it myself)
dating from c. 1375-1400 which is called in the source a "Cardiacle". -- 
same primary source as mentioned in #2 above, also online at the same
address, #8 --
4). In general, strong waters and cordials seem to emerge out of a
medicinal background, circa 1300-1450. Originally formulated as tonics
and prescriptive medications, they seem to increasingly have taken on a
more recreational life of their own from the 15th century on -- no
particular sources per se, just the impression I get from the research
I've been conducting --

	Again, though not a member of the list, since I don't do much in the way

of cooking, I nevertheless hope that this comment will be useful. I 
would very much welcome commentary, questions, or even irritable 
asides... :)

Nigel FitzMaurice (Midrealm)

  > Lady Mercedes of this list did a class on cordials for Northkeep
  > Winterkingdom a few months ago.  She expressed forcefully that
  > cordials are NOT period. Although after a sip or two of my strawberry
  > cordial, who cares?
  > Liadan
.................................................
Ian Gourdon of Glen Awe
OP, Midrealm Forester
"Well done is better than well said"