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glossary (Liq - Lyc)

Liqueurs
The aromatic wines from the old Romans, Greek and other countries of the Near East are said to be the predecessors of the today's known liqueurs. There is a direct connection between these aromatic wines of the Antique and the Vermouth and Aperitifs of today. The liqueurs, as we know them today, date back to the year 1000. Referring to documents of different "inventors" the first liqueurs were produced by the Brothers of the order San Romualdo. They produced a mixture based on "Aqua vite" and the sweet juice of plums to defeat the Malaria with it. Other documents say, that Michele Savonarola, the famous doctor from Padua, prepared an "Aquavite", made from honey and rose oil meant to be medicine for the wife of a businessman. This mixture became the famous "Rosolio" later on, which was the base of all following modern liqueurs. But other opinions say, that the first liqueur was not invented near Padua but in the Dalmatian Zara. Already in the Middle Ages, the production of liqueur was a successful business in Italy. Other European countries hardly knew this speciality yet at that time. When in 1532, Katharina from Medici went to Paris to marry King Henry II she also took the most famous cooks, bakers and liqueur experts of Florenz with her. These people introduced the cuisine of Florence and special Italian liqueurs to the French House they stayed with. The French people accepted the new products immediately, they especially liked the liqueurs. The modern liqueur industry was improved around 1700, after new knowledge about the fermentation and different steps of distillation (Lavoisir, Gay-Lussac, Patem) was won. The most important impetus for the liqueur industry was the perfection of the sugar production. The German description of liqueurs means spirituous liquors that are made by adding sugar and basic substances or essences. The amount of extracts contained is at least 10 grams, but usually it is 22 grams or even more in 100 ml. The federal monopoly administration prescribes a minimum alcohol content, which may differ depending on the basic substances used. Liqueurs, not corresponding with the German prescription, are allowed to be imported from other countries of the European community, if they are allowed to be sold on the market in their origin country and after the regulations there. There are two different ways to produce liqueurs: In one procedure fruits, plants, herbs etc are macerated in alcohol (which means: the ingredients extract in alcohol), in the other procedure the ingredients are distilled together with alcohol. It is possible to connect both procedures. Used alcohol is either pure alcohol, spirit made from wine, fruit spirit or Rum. A few of the best known liqueurs are: Bitter Liqueurs, like Bénédictine, Chartreuse, Escorial, Izarra,; Spice Liqueurs, like anise-caraway, peppermint liqueurs; Fruit Juice Liqueurs, like cherry-, currant-, raspberry liqueurs; Fruit Aroma Liqueurs, like apricot, peach, blackthorn; Wine contented Liqueurs, like Cordial Medoc; Cocoa,- Coffee-, Tea Liqueurs, like Créme de Cacao, Kahlua, Tia Maria, Santosa, Kosaks-Coffee, Tiffin; Honey Liqueurs, like "Bear Catch"; Emulsion Liqueurs, like egg-, chocolate-, cream liqueurs. 'Créme de...' is the description of liqueurs which are very sweet, containing 400 grams sugar or more per litre of the product. Fruit juice and fruit aroma liqueurs are allowed to be called "Brandy", when at least five litres of 40 % of fruit spirit of the same fruit per 100 litres of the product is added. 'Noble Liqueur' is the name for products, where the basic substances and quality of the product are clearly above average products.

Long John
Long John Scotch Whisky got its name from a man, who produced the whisky for the first time: John Mac Donald produced his distillation in the shade of the highest mountain in Great Britain, called Ben Nevis. Because of his towering height Mac Donald was only called Long John in Fort William to differ him from the other members of the Mac Donald Clan. Originally his whisky was called "Long John's Dew of Ben Nevis". The whiskies sold under the name 'Long John' today, are no longer related to the distillery, which is still situated in Fort William at the bottom of Ben Nevis. John Mac Donald came from an old family dating back to John Mac Donald, the Lord of the Island, in the 14th century. During that period, John Mac Donald ruled nearly like a king in his part of Scotland. In 1396, he again remembered his fealty towards the King of the Scots and as years passed his title of being the Lord of the Island lost its meaning. Long John Mac Donald was born at the end of the 18th century. Unfortunately the christening registry of Fort William started in 1820, therefore it is not possible to find out his exact date of birth. It is thought, that he was born in Torgulbin in 1796. In 1825, he built up his distillery in Fort William. John Mac Donald died in 1856, leaving his distillery to his 23 year old son Donald Peter. In 1935, "Long John" was taken over by the Seager-Evans Grang, which merged with the Canadian-American Schenley-Group in 1956. Today four distilleries as well as storage halls, situated west on the bank of the river Ceyde, a cooperage and a blending hall belong to Long John International. The complex is about 40 hectares in size; the 14 storage halls contain about 90 million litres of normal alcohol contented whisky, which is about 170 million bottles. In the Speyside region the first totally new malt whisky distillery was built in 1958/ 59 being the first distillery of the century in the Highland. It is called Tormore, situated close to the village Advie. It became a village itself because of all the houses around the distillery - worker's houses were designed around the new distillery-building as being part of the whole project. The creek Achvochkie runs close to Lach-an-Oir (A whole of gold), down the mountain delivering Tormore with the important and necessary water. The best known distillery of Long John distilleries is Laphroaig, situated on the Island Islay in the western part of Scotland. The island is famous for its whiskies. The Laphroaig distillery was built in 1815, it produces a characteristically malt whisky. Whisky available from Long John in Germany is: the standard product Fine Scotch (40 %), Fine Scotch 12 Year Old (43 %), Tormore - Speyside Malt Scotch 10 Year Old (43 %) and Laphroaig - Unblended Islay Malt Scotch 10 Year Old (43 %).

Lychee
This is a soft, aromatic and plum-similar fruit from China with a hard and warty peel, yellowish white pulp and a big black seed. Fresh and stewed fruits are often used for decoration and juice.