1931 Old Waldorf Bar Days by Albert Stevens Crockett

Definitions ABSINTHE-Usually a green, bitter, aromatic liquor, im– pregnated with wormwood, though there was also a white variety manufactured in France. Deriv., Latin, absinthium, "wormwood." Long a resort for parodists in such lines as "Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder." Taken "neat" and often, was guaranteed to produce visions of snakes, etc. Voltage, 58.93. AROMATIC SPIRITS OF AMMONIA-A fragrant distil– lation from a colorless, pungent, suffocating gas (NHs) ob– tained from nitrogenous organic bodies, such as coal, bones, blood, etc. APPLE-JACK-Often used synonymously with apple whis– key and supposed to be a distillation. However, certain sur– viving bartenders have authorized a statement that either was usually nothing more or less than cider, "hardened" by age. BENEDICTINE-A cordial or liqueur, distilled for centuries at Fecamp, in France, by the Benedictine monks. Its com– position was kept secret and some persons believed its dis– tillation was accompanied by religious rites. However, after the French .Revolution, discovery was made that it could be produced by the laity and by strictly secular methods. Its components have been kept a trade secret, but it was believed to contain the volatile constituents of cardamom seeds, arnica flowers, angelica root, lemon peel, thyme, nut– megs, cassia, hyssop, peppermint, and cloves. Imitation of Benedictine is not so much a part of prohibition history as patrons of bootleggers may have become convinced. As a matter of fact, such has been going on in France and else– where for generations, the average customer who did not [ 234] ANISETTE-A liquor made in France by distillation from anise seed. Voltage, 42.