Wormwood infused gin!

Topic created by Old Nick
on Thu, 1 Jan 2009 at 20:08

Old Nick said on Thu, 1 Jan 2009 at 20:08...

A interesting historical oddity:

"Gin and Wormwood: (Use a small bar glass.) Take six to eight sprigs of wormwood, put these in a quart bottle and fill up with Holland gin; leave this stand for a few days, until the essence of the wormwood is extracted into the gin. In handing out this, pour a little of the above into a small whiskey glass and hand it with the bottle of gin to the customer to help himself. This drink is popular in the eastern part of the country, where the wormwood is used as a substitute for bitters"

Source: Harry Johnson’s 1882 New and Improved Bartender’s Manual and a Guide for Hotels and Restaurants

ty9 said on Fri, 2 Jan 2009 at 09:43...

In The Cook and Housewife's Manual" (1826) by Margaret Dods, it says that rectified spirits, proof brandy or whisky (that does not have a peaty taste) should be used for infusions incl. wormwood. I wonder if juniper and wormwood are good friends? Did you try it?

Old Nick said on Wed, 7 Jan 2009 at 15:22...

Gin + Wormwood is a bitter friendship, ty9. It is a form of bitters of course.