[Sca-cooks] Horilka (was "re: Vanilla Extract --Thank you!")

[Jeff Gedney]

>A haroka is a beverage made of sprits, herbs and honey and 
>drunk by madmen. 
>I know, I've made and drunk them. Supposedly Scandinavian, 
>but I have no primary sources.

I think you are looking for "Horilka".
I seem to recall that is it originally a honey and vodka 
cordial that originated in eastern Europe.

It may have been introduced to SCA usage by Vladislav 
Poleski in the East Kingdom in the early 1970's.  
(yes, I remember that personally... Crap I'm old! when 
did that happen? ) Certainly the description of 
"drinking it to go mad/berserk" was a common phrase 
of his back then. 
I can't find any earlier SCA references than ol' Vlad. 

Although it must be pointed out that the term "Horilka" 
also seems to be used in the Ukraine for just the vodka. 

Vodka, literally "water", is used for the neutral spirits 
of grain on either side of the Ukraine, and seems likely 
to be the earlier variant, linguistically, but many sources 
put the origin of vodka in the Ukraine and Horilka as the 
earlier term. It is hard to know. "Vodka" appears as a 
term in the 1400s - It's funny how often terms for spirits 
are related to water: vodka, whiskey, akavit, eau d'vie. )

Capt Elias
Dragonship Haven, East
(Stratford, CT, USA)
Apprentice in the House of Silverwing

-Renaissance Geek of the Cyber Seas
- Help! I am being pecked to death by the Ducks of Dilletanteism! 
There are SO damn many more things I want to try in 
the SCA than I can possibly have time for. 
It's killing me!!!

-----------------------------------------------------
Upon the hempen tackle ship-boys climbing;
Hear the shrill whistle which doth order give
To sounds confused; behold the threaden sails,
Borne with the invisible and creeping wind,
Draw the huge bottoms through the furrow'd sea,
Breasting the lofty surge: O, do but think
You stand upon the ravage and behold
A city on the inconstant billows dancing;
For so appears this fleet majestical,
Holding due course to Harfleur. 
  - Shakespeare - Henry V, Act III, Prologue