What does aqua vitae mean?

: a strong alcoholic liquor (such as brandy)

What type of alcoholic drink is aqua vitae?

The beverage, produced in the Scandinavian countries, derives its name from aqua vitae (Latin: water of life), applied originally to liquor distilled from wine, and was made from imported wine; the product therefore was highly expensive until Swedish soldiers learned to make aquavit from grain.

What was aqua vitae used for?

It has been claimed to help fight disease, to warm you inside and out, to support digestion and alleviate many other aches and pains. Of course, it was used not only as a medicine but also as an enjoyable libation. Aqua Vitae was typically distilled from wine, therefore it is often linked to brandy.

How do you drink aqua vitae?

Complex and rewarding. We recommend drinking Aqua Vitae in a Highball glass filled with ice, pour over 50ml of Aqua Vitae topped with Ginger Ale, and garnish with a twist of Orange.

How do you pronounce vitae in English?

What is aqua vitae alchemy?

Aqua Vitae means Water of Life and the alchemical symbol for it is two interlocked triangles, one up and the other down. It can also be said to be the water with life or with spirit inside of it.

How much is a bottle of aquavit?

Given its rarity and the fact that it tends to be exceptionally imported, akvavit prices can greatly vary. In most cases, a bottle of akvavit shouldn’t set you back more than $30. However, certain small-batch and artisanal brands may cost you over $50. This is particularly true of Icelandic and Norwegian akvavit.

What do you drink aquavit with?

How to Drink Aquavit. In both the Scandinavian countries and northern Germany, aquavit is usually served chilled and unmixed, in small (tulip) glasses, and is usually accompanied by appetizers or sandwiches.

What is Sweden’s national drink?

2. Aquavit Is the National Spirit of Scandinavia. Heading to Sweden, Norway or Denmark? It won’t be long before you’re presented with a glass of aquavit.

Which spirit’s name means water of life?

The term ‘whisky’ derives originally from the Gaelic ‘uisge beatha’, or ‘usquebaugh’, meaning ‘water of life’. Gaelic is that branch of Celtic spoken in the Highlands of Scotland.

What is Spirit of wine in alchemy?

(alchemy) Aqua vitae prepared by distilling wine. Brandy that has been repeatedly distilled.

What is Spirit of wine in chemistry?

n. 1. Also called ethyl alcohol , grain alcohol, ethanol. a colorless, volatile, flammable liquid, C₂H₅OH, produced by yeast fermentation of carbohydrates or, synthetically, by hydration of ethylene: used chiefly as a solvent and in beverages and medicines. 2.

What are the ingredients of aquavit?

Ingredients

• 1 cup vodka.
• 1 sprig fresh dill.
• One (2-inch) strip of lemon zest, without pith.
• 1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds.
• 1 pod star anise.
• 1/4 teaspoon fennel seed.

What is vita in?

Vita or VITA (plural vitae) is Latin for life, and may refer to: Vita, the usual start to the title of a biography in Latin, by which (in a known context) the work is often referred to; frequently of a saint, then called hagiography.

How do you speak vitae?

What does CV stand for pronunciation?

curriculum vitae View American English pronunciation of curriculum vitae.

Who invented aqua vitae?

The term was used by the 14th-century alchemist John of Rupescissa, who believed the then newly discovered substance of ethanol to be an imperishable and life-giving fifth essence or quintessence, and who extensively studied its medical properties.

Is Aqua vitae flammable?

Aqua vitae is aptly named: the water of life! When distilled to purity, aqua vitae is a clear liquid that can support fire, i.e., it is a water that burns!

How did aqua become water?

From Middle English aqua (water), borrowed from Latin aqua. Perhaps also a learned borrowing directly from Latin. Doublet of ea, Eau, eau, and yeo.

How do Swedes drink aquavit?

In Iceland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany aquavit is chilled and often drunk in a single gulp from a small shot glass. This is usually attributed to tradition. It is not generally chilled in Norway, but enjoyed slowly. In Sweden commonly the aquavit is consumed immediately following a song, called a snapsvisa.

Can you buy aquavit in the US?

Imports to the United States have also revived as Nordic distillers see new interest in the spirit. Under American regulations, all aquavit must be flavored with caraway, but the addition of other botanicals gives aquavit a very wide range of flavors. Below is a list of aquavits one may find in American liquor stores.

Should aquavit be served cold?

It’s best served chilled, so store it in your freezer, Grier says. The exception is barrel-aged aquavit, which Grier recommends serving at room temperature.

What does aquavit smell like?

The base of Aquavit is a neutral spirit with caraway and/or dill as the main flavour along with other spices and herbs such as cumin, coriander, fennel or star anise. The way it is the dominant flavour of the juniper berries that define gin, aquavit is defined by caraway.

What is aquavit similar to?

What Does Aquavit Taste Like? Aquavit, especially when unaged, has a neutral background flavor similar to vodka. At the forefront are the flavorings, with caraway up topthink rye bread but in spirit form. The herbaceous flavor is supported by other aromatics like dill, fennel, anise, and clove.

What is the difference between aquavit and vodka?

As nouns the difference between vodka and aquavit is that vodka is a clear distilled alcoholic liquor made from grain mash while aquavit is a scandinavian liquor that is 40% alcohol and distilled from potato or grain mash also called akvavit.

Do Swedes drink a lot of alcohol?

To sum things up, Swedes have an ambivalent relationship to alcohol and drinking. They often drink either nothing at all or a lot. Alcohol and drinking is a big topic in the Swedish society.

Are Swedes heavy drinkers?

With over 42 percent of all alcohol sales in Sweden, the typical Swedish drink recreational of today is a glass of wine. And a big portion of it is bag-in-box wine, explains Eva Lenneman, curator at Spritmusuem in Stockholm. Swedes are in fact the biggest BiB-drinkers in the world.

How do Swedes drink vodka?

Vodka is the highest grade of brnnvin, with brands like Absolut Vodka and Explorer Vodka. Brnnvin seasoned with herbs is known as akvavit. This is usually drunk as a snaps, also known as nubbe, a small shot glass to a traditional meal (especially pickled herring or crayfish).