[Sca-cooks] Grog was made from local and imported ingredients
Terry Decker
t.d.decker at att.net
Mon Jan 20 11:35:49 PST 2014
Think of it as modern Scandinavian usage, a single type of liquor cut with
something non-alcoholic, spiced and served hot or cold. The word and the
original drink of rum and lime juice were apparently adopted from the
British Navy by the Norwegian Navy where it came into general use and spices
were added. The word appears to have moved from the specific to the
general.
Bear
----- Original Message -----
I am slightly puzzled as to why this is termed a "grog."
According to the OED, grog relates to " first as a personal nickname to
Admiral Vernon, from the fact of his wearing a grogram cloak, and afterwards
transferred to the mixture which he ordered to be served out instead of neat
spirit. Vernon's order, dated Aug. 1740, is still extant. The statement that
he wore a grogram cloak, and was thence nicknamed ‘Old Grog’, first appears
explicitly in Grose Dict. Vulgar Tongue 1796, but derives some support from
Trotter's allusion in a quotation from 1781."
In any case it's "A drink consisting of spirits (originally rum) and water.
half and half grog, a drink made of equal parts of spirits and water."
A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition defines it as "British naval drink;
sugared rum mixed with hot water. Named after Admiral Vernon (early 18th
century) whose nickname ‘Old Grog’ came from his grosgrain (heavy corded
silk) coat."
So if grog is an 18th century term meaning a distilled neat spirit watered
down with water, then why is this term being applied to this pre-Viking
drink of "barley, honey, cranberries, herbs and even grape wine imported
from Greece and Rome"?
http://www.nbcnews.com/science/what-was-grog-scientists-analyze-ancient-nordic-drink-2D11926342
http://www.penn.museum/press-releases/1031-patrick-mcgovern-nordic-grog.html
Johnnae
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