Thoughts: Aqua Vitae is first mentioned in the Irish annals in 1405, when a chieftain apparently died of over-drinking the stuff. By the time of Henry VIII, it had moved from a wine-based distillation to a grain-based one. The name is a partial Anglicizing of the Gaelic “uisge beatha”, which, like “aqua vitae”, also means…
Category: infusion
Violatium
“I’d give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died.” -Ophelia, Hamlet Thoughts: So get this: The Ancient Romans actually made this beverage where they immersed violet blossoms in wine. Naturally, I had to try it. The finished product is quirky. As the mixture ages, the color leaches out of the violets, leaving…
Tyroshi Pear Brandy
Pear Brandy starting to age Although there are several pear brandies available commercially, we opted to try making our own. This beautiful beverage will have to age around two months before we can let you know how it has turned out. If you like, you can make some too, and watch it mature along with…
Game of Brews 