Alcohol Distillation and Cultural Traditions
Alcohol Distillation and Cultural Traditions
Distillation isn’t just a way of life – it is also part of various cultures around the world and dates back centuries! Distilation dates back to prehistoric human societies where fermented beverages made from grains, fruit juice, honey and corn were made into fermented drinks before distillation became more standardized as an industry during the 16th century.
Hieronymus Braunschweig was the first to pen an entire book about distillation in his Liber de arte destillandi (The Art of Distillation). This helped set standard procedures and allow spirits producers to focus on creating their product instead of worrying about distillation itself.
Although distillation techniques were standardized, there was still much work to do before distilling became seen as a recreational activity. Early texts on distilling saw spirits as medicines with strong religious overtones; only as Europe’s wine drinking culture changed during Renaissance and Age of Discovery did distilling gain traction among apothecaries, bars, and homes.
As distillation became more standardized and businesses flourished, laws emerged to regulate production and consumption. From state and local taxes to federal prohibitions, these regulations left their mark on modern alcohol industry as a whole as well as contributing to superstitious lore that has grown through time.
