Victorian Spirits From The Garden

It was  the Edwardian Age, the late 18th Century and early 19th, a time of living both in the past and the future. It was the last gasp of the Victorian Age before World War I and elegant living was becoming more rare.
But life in distant places went on as before and especially so for those who made their living from the sea. The wives of New England sea captains were by necessity expert household managers living in colonial mansions, supervising staff, houses, barns and gardens which fueled the food supply, all while maintaining the strict social formalities of the time and waiting months for the ships to sail home. It was, as Helen Wright called it in her 1909 edition of Old-Time Recipes for Home Made Wines, an Adamless Eden.
So too did the brewing of spirits fall to them as just another chore. The women made beer, cider, wine, mead, brandies, cordials and many that escape category, like the Tears of the Widow of Malabar. These drinks came from their gardens, from spices brought home on the ships and imported staples like sugar. They were quite creative — so much so that Helen Wright felt compelled to exhibit “vulgar curiosity” by boldly asking for the recipes. We can thank her for this collection of most interesting and unusual historical craft drink recipes. We can also be thankful for her charming literary style of the era.
There are over 200 original `craft' recipes, ideal for today's new interest in craft cocktails, craft beers and more, each with its history, its local and humble ingredients and its taste delights. These are recipes that can be made in small or large batches on the kitchen countertop, in the garage or barn, or in the warehouse behind the commercial bar. They also conjure up various aesthetic possibilities as one imagines special glasses for each, perfect food pairings or your own label. But whatever your imagined possibilities, at the end of the day, nothing beats raising a glass of your own in a toast to life and labor. This delightful book has a full glossary for the interpretation of historical terms and ingredients and also current equipment sources for setting up your spirits workshop. Since the recipes all use readily found garden plants, it will appeal to those who want to be free of the additives and prices of commercial drinks, those who want unique taste and originality plus the pride of DIY. There are wines, beers, cordials, liqueurs, meads and brandies — all easy to do and charmingly described.