|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1
stranger
|
OP
stranger
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1 |
Years ago when I was a vermouth drinker I was told the reason it was so called was because the wine was aged in wormwood barrels. This doesn't seem likely, given the size of the plant. Perhaps it was flavoured with Artemisia. Anyone know more?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 677
addict
|
addict
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 677 |
The person who invented it (Antonio Benedetto Carpano from Turin, Italy) chose to name his concoction "vermouth" in 1786 because he was inspired by the German wine flavoured with wormwood, (herb used in distilling absinthe). The modern German word Wermut (Wermuth in the spelling of Carpano's time) means both wormwood and vermouth. The herbs in vermouth were originally used to mask raw flavours of cheaper wines, imparting a slightly medicinal "tonic" flavour. Vermouth does in fact not have any wormwood in it at all, instead using aromatic herbs and spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, marjoram and chamomile to flavour it.
----The next sentence is true. The previous sentence is false----
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,920 Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,920 Likes: 3 |
----please, draw me a sheep----
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,920 Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,920 Likes: 3 |
As a former Vermouth drinker as well, I appreciate the history. I drank it in gin, where, I can see, it served the same purpose.
----please, draw me a sheep----
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290 |
Some other words for wormwood: Greek αψινθιον (apsinthion), Russian полынь (polyn'.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 677
addict
|
addict
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 677 |
Greek αψινθιον (apsinthion Ah I see now where absinthe comes from...ingenious
----The next sentence is true. The previous sentence is false----
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,920 Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,920 Likes: 3 |
For those of us who don't speak Greek, could you share the Ingenious aspect.
----please, draw me a sheep----
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 677
addict
|
addict
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 677 |
The green alcoholic drink absinthe, comes from the Greek apsinthion (sometimes it is simply called absinthion) for wormwood because it includes the flowers and leaves of the herb Artemisia absinthium, "grande wormwood". So the inventor stole the Greek for the plant for his drink, rather than come up with something new. The plant is also used therapeutically to remedy indigestion, gastric pain and labour pain. The name comes from Artemis, goddess of the hunt, and protector of the forest and the absinthium bit means, possibly, unenjoyable, alluding to the bitterness. So the inventor was hijacking the use of the plant as remedial and also warning drinkers of its bitterness!
----The next sentence is true. The previous sentence is false----
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,920 Likes: 3
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,920 Likes: 3 |
I get it now....thanks. Very clever that. It certainly delighted my heart.
----please, draw me a sheep----
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290 |
For those of us who don't speak Greek, could you share the Ingenious aspect.
I believe he was just admiring the origin of English absinthe (via French) from Greek apsinthion. Latin borrowed the word as absinthium and had a drink called absinthites 'wine flavored with wormwood'.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,389
Members9,182
|
Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
1 members (wofahulicodoc),
702
guests, and
3
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|