aquavit

aquavit
/ah"kweuh veet', ak"weuh-/, n.
a dry spirit, esp. of Scandinavia, made from redistilled grain or potato alcohol and usually flavored with caraway seeds. Also, akvavit.
[1885-90; < Dan, Sw, Norw akvavit, aquavit < L aqua vit(ae) water of life]

* * *

(from Latin aqua vitae, "water of life") Scandinavian clear distilled liquor flavoured with caraway seeds.

Distilled from a fermented potato or grain mash, filtered with charcoal, and usually bottled without aging, aquavit has an alcohol content of 42–45% by volume. Most aquavits are sweet and spicy. It is usually served chilled and unmixed, in small glasses.

* * *

liquor
also spelled  Aquavite, or Akvavit,  also called  Snaps,  

      flavoured, distilled liquor, clear to pale yellow in colour, dry in flavour, and ranging in alcohol content from about 42 to 45 percent by volume. It is distilled from a fermented potato or grain mash, redistilled in the presence of flavouring agents, filtered with charcoal, and usually bottled without aging. Various aromatic flavourings are employed, usually including caraway or cumin seed; lemon or orange peel, cardamom, aniseed, and fennel also may be used.

      The beverage, produced in the Scandinavian countries, derives its name from aqua vitae (Latin: “water of life”), applied originally to liquor distilled from wine, and was made from imported wine; the product therefore was highly expensive until Swedish soldiers learned to make aquavit from grain. In the 18th century the potato became an important raw material.

      Swedish and Norwegian aquavits are sweet and spicy and of straw colour. Sweden is the largest producer, manufacturing about 20 brands. Norway's (Norway) production, comparatively low, includes Linie Aquavit, so called because it is shipped to Australia and back (across the Equator, or Line) in oak containers to produce mellow flavour. Finnish aquavit has a cinnamon flavour. The Danish product, also called snaps, is colourless, with a pronounced caraway flavour. One of the best known Danish types is Ålborg akvavit, named for a small town in Jutland, on Denmark's northern coast. The only brand exported from Denmark, it is produced by Danish Distilleries, a private organization granted the sole right to produce alcohol and yeast since 1927 under a monopoly of the Danish government.

      In both the Scandinavian countries and northern Germany, aquavit is usually served chilled and unmixed, in small glasses, and is usually accompanied by appetizers or sandwiches; it is the traditional accompaniment to a smorgasbord.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Aquavit — Schwedischer Aquavit Aquavit, auch Akvavit (lateinisch Aqua vitae = Lebenswasser), ist eine klare bis goldgelbe …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • aquavit — [ akwavit ] n. m. VAR. akvavit • 1923; mot suéd. akvavit « eau de vie » ♦ Eau de vie scandinave, parfumée d épices (cumin, anis). Un verre d aquavit. ● aquavit ou akvavit nom masculin (su …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • aquavit — n. 1. 1 a Scandinavian liquor usually flavored with caroway seeds; also called {akvavit}. Syn: akvavit. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Aquavit — Aquavit: Das Fremdwort kam im 16. Jh. in der Apothekersprache als gelehrte Bezeichnung für »Branntwein« auf. Es beruht auf lat. aqua vitae und bedeutet demnach eigentlich »Lebenswasser« (im Frz. entspricht eau de vie). Heute versteht man unter… …   Das Herkunftswörterbuch

  • Aquavit — may refer to:* Aqua vitae, Latin for water of life , a concentrated alcholic distillate * Akvavit, a Scandinavian distilled beverage * Okovita, an historic Polish Ukrainian term for an alcoholic drink related to vodka …   Wikipedia

  • Aquavīt — (v. lat.), 1) eigentlich Lebenswasser; 2) abgezogener Branntwein, bes. 3) Liqueur …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Aquavīt — (lat. aqua vitae, »Lebenswasser«), Branntwein, Likör …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Aquavit — Aquavīt (lat., Abkürzung von Aqua vitae), eigentlich Lebenswasser, abgezogener Branntwein, Likör …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Aquavit — Aquavit,der:⇨Branntwein …   Das Wörterbuch der Synonyme

  • aquavit — [ak′wə vēt΄, äk′wə vēt΄] n. [Ger < L aqua vitae: see AQUA VITAE] a Scandinavian alcoholic liquor distilled from grain or potatoes, flavored with caraway seeds, and usually drunk as an aperitif …   English World dictionary

  • Aquavit — Botella y vaso de aquavit Linie. Botella Anderson aquavit El Akvavit, también conocido como aquavit, es una bebida destilada escandinava de habitualmente un 40% de alcohol por volumen …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”