Hello! I’m John Green, and welcome to Mental Floss on YouTube. Today, we’re diving into the fascinating world of alcoholic beverages. My friend Hannah Hart was supposed to join us, but she’s feeling a bit under the weather after last night’s filming. I’m also feeling the effects, but I’m here to share some intriguing stories and facts about popular drinks.
Did you know that in Spanish, “piña” means pineapple and “colada” means strained? To make a piña colada, you’ll need a pineapple, a coconut, some rum, and cherries. Start by straining the pineapple, then open the coconut. Mix the piña colada blend with rum and cherries, and there you have it!
Many drinks have fascinating histories. Take the julep, for example. Its name comes from the Arabic “julab” or Persian “gulaab,” meaning rosewater. Originally a mix of water and rose petals, it became popular in the Mediterranean with mint leaves replacing the rose petals. By the 1800s, juleps in the U.S. were associated with alcohol.
Similarly, “sangria” was a term used by ancient Spaniards for any red wine creation. It became synonymous with red wine mixed with fruit and gained popularity in the U.S. after the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. To make sangria, simply add cut-up fruit to red wine.
The word “wine” has roots in the Proto-Germanic language, derived from the Latin “vinum,” meaning grapevine. Fast forward to the 1980s in New Jersey, where Ray Foley, founder of Bartender Magazine, created the fuzzy navel, inspired by the fuzziness of peaches and navel oranges. Similarly, black Russians are named for their coffee-like color and Russian vodka. Add cream, and you have a White Russian.
There’s a popular myth that the Manhattan cocktail was named after a banquet hosted by Winston Churchill’s mother at the Manhattan Club in New York City. However, it was likely invented by a Manhattan bartender in the 1860s. The martini’s origin is also debated, with one theory attributing it to a bartender in Martinez, California, and another to Jerry Thomas, who included it in his 1887 recipe book.
The Alabama slammer, created at the University of Alabama in 1975, combines whiskey, vodka, amaretto, and orange juice. The Tom Collins drink is named after a 1870s hoax, while the Tom and Jerry cocktail, featuring eggnog, brandy, and rum, was a publicity stunt by Pierce Egan in the 1920s.
The Irish Car Bomb, despite its controversial name, was invented in Connecticut in the late 1970s, referencing Irish liqueurs. Irish coffee, on the other hand, was created in the 1940s by an Irish bartender who added whiskey to coffee to warm up travelers.
Mojitos, a Cuban favorite, likely derive their name from “mojo,” a Cuban seasoning. The mai tai, however, originated in California. The Bellini, a mix of Prosecco and peach puree, was crafted by Italian bartender Giuseppe Cipriani in the late 1940s. The hurricane was born at Pat O’Brien’s bar in New Orleans during the 1940s to use up excess rum.
The minty grasshopper also hails from New Orleans, while the mimosa is named after an orange flower found in Mexico and South America. The Long Island iced tea’s name is debated, possibly linked to either a Tennessee community or the well-known Long Island.
Many cocktails have mysterious origins, like the Bloody Mary, named after various historical figures, and the zombie, invented in California as a hangover cure. The sidecar, first mixed for an American army officer during World War I, was named after a motorcycle sidecar.
Thank you for joining us on this journey through the world of alcoholic drinks. Remember, every week on Mental Floss, we tackle one of your intriguing questions. This week, Miss Vicky 171 asked if some dyes are made from bugs. Indeed, a common red dye comes from the cochineal insect, so always check your labels!
Thanks for watching Mental Floss, and as we say in my hometown, don’t forget to be awesome!
Using the information from the article, design your own unique cocktail. Consider the origins and ingredients of classic drinks like the piña colada or the mojito. Write a short description of your cocktail, including its name, ingredients, and the story behind its creation. Share your creation with the class and explain how you were inspired by the historical context of other drinks.
Choose one of the drinks mentioned in the article, such as the Manhattan or the Bellini, and conduct further research on its history and cultural significance. Prepare a short presentation to share with your classmates, highlighting any interesting facts or myths associated with the drink. This will help you understand the global influence and evolution of alcoholic beverages.
In groups, create a non-alcoholic version of a classic cocktail discussed in the article. Focus on maintaining the essence and flavor profile of the original drink while making it suitable for all audiences. Present your mocktail to the class, explaining the choices you made in substituting ingredients and how it compares to the traditional version.
Work collaboratively to create an interactive timeline that traces the development of various cocktails over the centuries. Include key historical events, cultural shifts, and notable figures mentioned in the article. Use digital tools to make your timeline engaging and informative, and present it to the class to provide a visual understanding of the evolution of alcoholic drinks.
Engage in a class discussion about the cultural impact of alcoholic beverages, using examples from the article. Consider how drinks like sangria or Irish coffee have influenced social gatherings, traditions, and even language. Discuss the role of these drinks in different societies and how they reflect cultural values and practices.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, I’m John Green. This is Mental Floss on YouTube, and today’s episode is about alcohol. My friend Hannah Hart was supposed to host this episode, but she came to my house last night to film her program, and she is very hungover. I am also hungover, but I’m committed to my craft.
You know that in Spanish, “piña” means pineapple and “colada” means strained. How do you make a piña colada? Well, I’ll show you. First, you need a pineapple, a coconut, some rum, and cherries. First, strain the pineapple and put that in a colander. Then, open the coconut. After that, get your piña colada mix and mix it with rum and cherries.
There’s a lot of folklore surrounding drink origins, and we’re going to share some stories that have persisted today. Juleps tend to be sweet and watery, which makes sense because the word comes from the Arabic “julab” or Persian “gulaab,” meaning rosewater. A julab was a combination of water and rose petals popular in the 14th century in the Arab world. The drink then became popular in the Mediterranean, where mint leaves were substituted for rose petals, and by the early 1800s in the United States, juleps became associated with alcohol.
Ancient Spaniards called all creations made with red wine “sangria,” but it eventually became associated only with red wine made with fruit. Sangria didn’t become popular in the U.S. until the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. How do you make sangria? You have to cut up some fruit and put it in there. There you go, that’s perfect!
The word “wine” goes all the way back to the Proto-Germanic word for the drink, which came from the Latin “vinum,” meaning grapevine. From ancient Rome to New Jersey in the 1980s, Ray Foley, the founder of Bartender Magazine, invented the fuzzy navel, named after the fuzzy quality of peaches and navel oranges. On a similar note, black Russians are named for the color of coffee and the Russian vodka. Add some cream, and you have a White Russian.
Allow me to demonstrate: first, finish your coffee, then pour in some coffee liqueur and about twice as much vodka.
The popular story about the Manhattan getting its name at a banquet thrown by Winston Churchill’s mom at the Manhattan Club in New York City is not true. According to “Valentine’s Manual of New York,” the drink was more likely invented by a bartender in Manhattan in the 1860s. People also argue about how the martini got its name, so I’ll leave you with two options.
One, the martini was invented by a bartender in the town of Martinez, California, who named it after the town. Or two, the martini comes from the name Martinez, a cocktail invented by Jerry Thomas, who wrote the recipe book in 1887 containing the famous gin and vermouth combination that makes a martini.
Surprisingly, the Alabama slammer was named for its place of invention at the University of Alabama in 1975. It contains whiskey, vodka, amaretto, and a healthy dose of orange juice.
The Tom Collins drink is named after a popular hoax from the 1870s. A person would ask another if they had seen Tom Collins, leading to confusion and humor.
The drink Tom and Jerry, which consists of eggnog, brandy, and rum, was actually invented by Pierce Egan in the 1920s as a publicity scheme.
Speaking of which, I will now show you how to make a delicious cocktail. You want your finest mug, the best champagne, and a mystery liquor.
The Irish Car Bomb is named for the Irish liqueurs it contains and is taken as a bomb shot. However, the drink was invented in the late 1970s in Connecticut and references Irish Republican Army car bombings.
Irish coffee was invented in Ireland in the 1940s by a bartender who added Irish whiskey to coffee to warm up passengers after a rough flight.
Stories about mojitos vary, but the Cuban drink’s name is probably a reference to “mojo,” a seasoning used in Cuba. The mai tai was actually invented in California.
The Bellini, made of Prosecco and peach puree, was invented by Italian bartender Giuseppe Cipriani in the late 1940s.
The hurricane was invented at Pat O’Brien’s bar in New Orleans in the 1940s when the bar owner mixed a drink to get rid of unwanted rum.
The minty grasshopper was also invented in New Orleans, and the mimosa is named after an orange flower found in Mexico and South America.
The Long Island iced tea is either named for a community in Tennessee or the Long Island we all know.
One of my ambitions is to have a famous cocktail named after me, but often history forgets who the cocktail was named for.
Great examples include the Bloody Mary, which is named for various figures, and the zombie, invented in California as a hangover cure.
Finally, a sidecar was first mixed for an American army officer during World War I and was named after a motorcycle sidecar.
Thank you for watching Mental Floss on YouTube, which is made with the help of all these nice people. Every week, we answer one of your mind-blowing questions. This week’s comes from Miss Vicky 171, who asks if it’s true that some dyes are made from bugs. Yes, in fact, a common type of red coloring comes from an insect called cochineal, so check the ingredients label.
Thanks for watching Mental Floss, and as we say in my hometown, don’t forget to be awesome!
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This version removes any inappropriate language and maintains a respectful tone throughout.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – The history of the Roman Empire provides insight into the development of modern governance systems.
Science – The systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. – The advancements in science during the Renaissance period significantly altered the course of human understanding and technology.
Cocktail – A mixed drink typically made with a combination of spirits, fruit juices, and other ingredients. – The invention of the cocktail during the Prohibition era in the United States reflects a unique adaptation to cultural and legal constraints.
Wine – An alcoholic beverage made from fermented grapes or other fruits. – The production and trade of wine have played a crucial role in the economic and cultural history of many civilizations, including the Greeks and Romans.
Origins – The point or place where something begins, arises, or is derived. – The origins of the scientific method can be traced back to the works of early philosophers and scholars in ancient Greece.
Drinks – Liquids that are consumed for nourishment, refreshment, or enjoyment. – The study of ancient drinks reveals much about the dietary habits and social customs of early societies.
Alcohol – A volatile, flammable liquid that is the intoxicating agent in fermented drinks such as beer, wine, and spirits. – The role of alcohol in social rituals and its regulation has been a significant aspect of many cultures throughout history.
Culture – The social behavior and norms found in human societies, including knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, and habits. – The culture of the Renaissance period was marked by a renewed interest in classical learning and the arts, which influenced scientific inquiry.
Recipes – Instructions for preparing a particular dish, including a list of the ingredients required. – Historical recipes provide valuable insights into the culinary practices and daily life of past civilizations.
Beverages – Any drinkable liquid, especially one other than water. – The variety of beverages consumed throughout history reflects the diverse agricultural practices and trade networks of different regions.
