The Bar Journal

I have recently facing a speculation about originality of the Italian products and I decide to refresh the knowledge and history about Italian Vermouth & Bitters liqueurs.

Human being transform what Mother Nature makes.

Plants and herbs growing in different part of the world and have distinct characteristics and properties depending of soil, clima and many other influent factors.

The mains applications are to enrich and balance the fragrance of a wine or a spirits and for medicinal and restorative reason.

Aromatised wine, nowadays known as Vermouth; originated in China (circa 1250,1000BC Shang and Western Zhou dynasties), land of herbal medicine and natural cure.

Patrick McGovern discover a bronze vessel containing aromatised rice and wine infused with wormwood and other flower and spices.

Greece historically was the house of myth, Gods, honey, wine and aromatic plants; Pythagoras as head of the mystic figure of philosopher; Socrates changed the approach believing that behind any theory there is meticulous examination.

It was 460 BC when Hippocrates was born; he believed in Socrates theory and translates it into the medic world, he didn’t believe in Gods punishment and no recorded medicine.

Hippocrates produces the firs accurate record of symptoms of pneumonia and epilepsy, and became the Father of Modern Medicine.

He also developed a recipe against stomach complaint, it was a wine based on wine macerate with Cretan dittany flowers, and wormwood.

Vimum Hippocraticum (Hippocratic wine) became popular for the healing properties and the also the it was very easy to make but no easy to drink because of bitterness.

It was also given to the winner at the game of Olympia , to remind them that there is a bitter side even in a victory!!!

The game of Olympia was a bridge and meeting point between Greek and Roman cultures.

Also, In Rome was common added botanicals into poor quality wine, one of the early recipes mentions  “absinthites” amongst other Mediterranean ingredients such rosemary, myrrh and thyme, citrus and spices from the orient as cardamom, sandal wood, rhubarb and probably store them in wooden barrel.

The high society Roman life was full of parties with loads of food and beverages, so the “vinum absithum” was drunk for prepare the stomach to meal and enjoy the double benefice.

For the first time people were beginning to drink vermouth for pleasure.