Ever wondered where your liquor came from? I did some research and provided a history lesson with some of your favorite drinks!

1. The History of Liquor
Maurice Amon

2. Ever wish you could thank the distillers of old who invented the liquors you enjoy
so well, or wonder how someone could have come up with the idea of distilling in
the first place? Distilling has a captivating history, tracing back to the alchemists
of the old Middle East.
Alchemists are best known for attempting to turn lead into gold, an endeavor they
(unfortunately) were never successful in. However, they were more interested in
creating elixirs for medical use than creating gold. These ancient Arabs viewed
the vapors given off and collected during their alchemy processes as the “spirits”
of the objects they were working with. Of course, the most prominently isolated
element in distillation is alcohol.

3. Gin
Gin was originally distilled by Middle
Age Europeans to cure the plague.
Though unsuccessful in achieving it’s
original goal, it was later repurposed in
the Netherlands for dialysis, and later
still, was found to be useful in fighting
malaria. The side effect it’s most famous
for (and all it remains to be used for
today) however, is getting people
inebriated.

4. Tequila
Tequila has been distilled in Mexico since
the 1600’s, and was originally used for
religious purposes. Funny how what was
once called a religious ceremony is now
simply called a party. Though less
reserved in our regard for drinking today,
tequila is still enjoyed in Mexico, and the
now, the world over. Cenobio Sauza
brought the liquor to the U.S. in the late
1800s.

5. Rum
Rum is sweet by taste, but has a bitter
history. Inspired by the need to find a use
for sugar’s byproducts during the
Caribbean slave trade, rum was not only
wrought through slavery, but also played a
hand in perpetuating it, as the liquor was
traded back to Africa in exchange for more
slaves. Despite it’s dark genesis, rum has
become an important to Caribbean culture,
and a valuable export for the people today.

6. Vodka
Evidence suggests that the Russians
have been distilling and drinking vodka
since the 9th century. Famous for their
love of the vodka, Russians enjoyed it
openly at religious ceremonies and social
events.