1892 Drinks of the world

DRINKS.

i66

Dijon for its Cassis, Marseilles for Its Absinthe, Gre- noble for its Ratafias, and Paris and Lyons are each noted for many different kinds. The English have attained as yet no high rank as liqueur manufacturers. The prosaic nature of the Trade Returns includes all liqueurs of foreign origin under the heading of ''Sweetened or mixed Spirits!' It makes no distinction between Eaux and Cremes or between Ratafias and Elixirs. We have been told that elixirs are yellow and aromatized, and eaux or cremes white, while ratafias are substantially infusions of fruit. Originally this may have been so. It is not the case at present. Both Elixir and Ratafia are interesting from an etymological standpoint. The latter word has excited considerable discussion. Menage, writing it as it was commonly written in his time, ratafiat, says it is a term derived from the East Indies. Leibnitz, on thei contrary, holds it to be a corruption of rectifi^ applied, to alcohol. Another etymology is rata fiat. Parties were supposed to enter into a contract, and after drinking the liqueur to say, " Let it be ratified." Elixir ^ is an Arabic word derived from the Greek, by which the alchemists denoted their powder of- pro- jection or philosopher's stone.

now known under their joint

the niece of this lady, and the firm is

They manufacture many other Hqueurs, but are still chiefly

names.

famous for the old medicinal cordial. ^ wj^^iSij cilacsir, from Gr. ^rfpov, dry.