Aquavit

Also known as snaps, aquavit is a Nordic spirit that has a variety of styles and flavor profiles depending on its’ origins. For example, Swedish aquavit tends to include more anise seeds and fennel seeds, whereas Norwegian aquavit contains more cumin and citrus peels. The EU requires that all aquavit contains at least caraway and/or dill as base ingredients and then distillers can include other botanicals including anise seed, cardamom, cloves, juniper berries, coriander seed, cumin, fennel seed, and citrus peels.

Arak

Arak, also known as Arag and Raki, is an anise-based spirit from the Middle East dating back to the 12th century. Common in countries such as Iraq, Jordan, and Syria, arak is made by extracting anise seeds in grape brandy. Arak is served with water which causes the clear spirit to turn milky white once mixed.

Gin

Gin brings the most extensive assortment of botanical ingredients together with one requirement: juniper berries. Although different from what gin is now, this botanical spirit was first created in the Netherlands and Belgium. They would mix common botanicals (now used in gin) with malt wine that was around 50% ABV to help it become more palatable. Over time, the malt wine was removed and only botanicals were used. The botanical possibilities of gin are endless; some common botanicals used in gin include coriander seed, angelica root, orris root, cardamom, licorice root, cinnamon, and citrus peels.

Absinthe

During the 17th century, a fascinating drink with supposed mind-altering effects was invented - absinthe. Due to its’ high alcoholic potency, many countries have guidelines on how much thujone, a chemical compound found in absinthe, can be in each bottle. Absinthe will always contain three botanical ingredients: fennel seed, wormwood, and anise. Other botanicals commonly found in absinthe include hyssop herb, star anise, lemon balm, cinnamon, mint, coriander seed, angelica root, juniper berries, and veronica.

Pastis

This 1930's spirit made its break moments after the Absinthe Prohibition. During WWII, Europe banned alcohol advertisement, which led to pastis marketers giving cafes glassware, carafes, and ashtrays with their logo to boost their popularity and make their presence known. Like arak, this French spirit needs to be diluted prior to drinking; for every single unit of Pastis, five units of water are recommended. The famous French spirit is made with a base of either grain or beets and then green anise, licorice, and/or fennel seed is added.

References:

Graham, C. (2021, July 27). What is aquavit? The Spruce Eats. Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-is-aquavit-4687051.

Rear, J. (2018, March 19). A brief history of gin and how it conquered the world. Verdict. Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://www.verdict.co.uk/history-of-gin-what-does-the-future-hold/.

Teclemariam, T. (2021, March 31). Understanding arak, an ancient spirit with modern appeal. Wine Enthusiast. Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://www.winemag.com/2020/03/09/arak-middle-eastern-spirit-modern-appeal/.

Unit, B. (2021, August 5). How to drink French Pastis de Marseille. How To Drink French Pastis de Marseille. Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://bespokeunit.com/spirits/pastis/.

Vernose, V. (2019, June 25). The history of Parisian creatives' favorite cocktail. CR Fashion Book. Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://www.crfashionbook.com/culture/a28167871/absinthe-in-the-belle-epoque/.