- In medieval Europe, beer was often consumed more than water, as the alcohol made it safer from pathogens.
- Rum was used as a medium of economic exchange in the early American colonies to encourage the slave trade.
- The term “spirits” originated from medieval alchemy, where it was believed that distillation captured the spiritual essence of the fermented material.
- Teetotalism, the practice of complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages, was popularized in the 19th century as part of the temperance movement.
- Absolute Zero is technically the coldest a drink can get, at -273.15°C, where molecular motion stops, including the motion of alcohol molecules.
- The famous Vodka Belt countries have the highest consumption of spirits in the world, with Russia often leading the charts.
- Around 50 million bubbles can be found in a single bottle of champagne.
- The custom of bumping glasses with a “cheers” greeting originated from the practice of sloshing a bit of drink into each other’s cups to ensure no one had poisoned the drink.
- In 18th century England, gin was referred to as “Mother’s Ruin” due to the social problems it caused.
- Methuselah is not just a biblical figure but also the name for a six-liter bottle of Champagne or Burgundy.
- The only alcoholic beverage that continues to improve with age inside the bottle is wine.
- The world’s oldest known recipe for beer is over 4,000 years old, made by the Sumerians.
- A brewery in Japan has been operating continuously since A.D. 705, making it the oldest existing brewery in the world.
- During Prohibition, doctors prescribed “medicinal whiskey” to patients, legally bypassing the ban.
- The pressure inside a bottle of Champagne is about three times that of a car tire.
