234 / 252
Definitions
ABSINTHE-Usually a green, bitter, aromatic liquor, im–
pregnated with wormwood, though there was also a white
variety manufactured in France.
Deriv.,
Latin,
absinthium,
"wormwood." Long a resort for parodists in such lines as
"Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder." Taken "neat"
and often, was guaranteed to produce visions of snakes, etc.
Voltage,
58.93.
ANISETTE-A liquor made in France by distillation from
anise seed. Voltage,
42.
AROMATIC SPIRITS OF AMMONIA-A fragrant distil–
lation from a colorless, pungent, suffocating gas (NHs) ob–
tained from nitrogenous organic bodies, such as coal, bones,
blood, etc.
APPLE-JACK-Often used synonymously with apple whis–
key and supposed to be a distillation. However, certain sur–
viving bartenders have authorized a statement that either
was usually nothing more or less than cider, "hardened"
by age.
BENEDICTINE-A cordial or liqueur, distilled for centuries
at Fecamp, in France, by the Benedictine monks. Its com–
position was kept secret and some persons believed its dis–
tillation was accompanied by religious rites. However, after
the French .Revolution, discovery was made that it could
be produced by the laity and by strictly secular methods.
Its components have been kept a trade secret, but it was
believed to contain the volatile constituents of cardamom
seeds, arnica flowers, angelica root, lemon peel, thyme, nut–
megs, cassia, hyssop, peppermint, and cloves. Imitation of
Benedictine is not so much a part of prohibition history as
patrons of bootleggers may have become convinced. As a
matter of fact, such has been going on in France and else–
where for generations, the average customer who did not
[ 234]