Table of Contents
Preface xiii
Disclaimer xix
1 Fermentation
Greeks, Galen, and Guinness 1
Better Than Water 2
Early Medicinal Use of Beer and Wine 4
Ancient Greece and Wine 6
Galen and the Four Humors 11
Spice as Medicine 15
Theriac and Mithridate 18
Guinness Is Good for You 22
2 Quintessence
Alchemy and Aqua Vitae 27
The Theory and Practice of Alchemy 29
Alchemy in China and India 33
The Islamic Golden Age 35
Aqua Vitae 41
Spirit as Quintessence 46
The Small Book of Distillation 48
Paracelsus 51
Corpse Medicine 57
Unending Alchemy 63
Modern Metallic Drinks 64
3 Monks
Monastic Liqueurs and the Middle Ages 69
A History of Monastic Orders 70
The Black Death 73
Monastic Improvements 77
Chartreuse 81
Other Monastic Liqueurs 89
Bénédictine 91
Buckfast 94
4 Science
Phlogiston, Pyrmont, Pasteur, and Pathogens 99
Gas and Phlogiston 101
Lavoisier 107
Taking the Waters 110
Scaling Up Fizzy Water 115
Bugs and Beer 117
Lister 122
5 Bittersweet
Aperitif, Absinthe, and Amaro 129
Sugar and Caffeine 131
Vermouth 134
Absinthe 140
Gentian 151
Aperitifs and Digestifs 154
Fernet-Branca 156
Rhubarb and Angelica 159
6 Spirits
Grapes, Grain, Agave, and Cane 165
Armagnac and Cognac 167
Pisco Punch 174
Genever and Gin 176
Vodka 182
Rum 188
Scurvy 198
Whiskey 205
Whiskey in America 208
Baijiu 213
Agave 215
7 Poison
Phosphates, Patent Medicines, Pure Food, and Prohibition 219
The Wholesome Soda Fountain 220
Syphilis and Root Beer 223
Cocaine Drinks 229
Patent Medicines 235
The Pure Food and Drug Act 242
Prohibition 248
Moonshine 253
8 Tonic
Malaria, Mosquitoes, and Mauve 261
The Fever Tree 263
Drinking Bark 268
Tonic Water 273
Mosquito Discovery and Eradication 275
Mauve 277
Coming to America 281
Cinchonism 284
9 Mixology
Mixed Drinks and Modern Medicine 289
Bitters 290
Evolution of the Cocktail 297
American and Other Iced Drinks 302
Modern Medicine 310
Notes and Further Heading 316
Bibliography 329
Image Credits 335
Index 336