Illustration — a stand-in until there's a photo of the real thing.
Source John French, The Art of Distillation, London, 1651 — original
Ingredients
a gallon of small aqua vitae
a quart of canary sack
two pounds of raisins of the sun stoned, but not washed
two ounces of dates stoned, and the white skins thereof pulled out
two ounces of cinnamon grossly bruised
four good nutmegs bruised
an ounce of the best english licorice sliced and bruised
Method
Take a gallon of small aqua vitae and put it into a glass vessel.
Put thereto a quart of canary sack, two pounds of raisins of the sun stoned, but not washed, two ounces of dates stoned, and the white skins thereof pulled out, two ounces of cinnamon grossly bruised, four good nutmegs bruised, an ounce of the best english licorice sliced and bruised.
Stop the vessels very close and let them infuse in a cold place six or eight days.
Then let the liquor run through a bag called Manica Hippocratis made of white cotton.
This liquor is commonly used in surfeits, being a good stomach water.
Notes
Infusion only — no second distillation.
This recipe predates 1700 and is quoted from its original printed source. Spelling is left exactly as printed.
