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"There
were . . . a group of ancient and cobwebby bottles"
-- Dr. Watson (NOBL).
Holmes
and Watson had an excellent variety of spirits at their
disposal, most of which were kept in their spirit case.
Not only did Dr. Watson have brandy on hand in case
of medical emergencies (agitation, shock or otherwise)
(WIST, PRIO, ENGI, NAVA,
HOUN ), but there was a good amount of whiskey
for their preferred drinks: Whiskey & Water or Whiskey
& Soda. The latter was prepared using gasogene located
in the sitting room (STUD,
REDH).
English
Gasogene
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Gasogene
(MAZA, SCAN )
The
gasogene (or seltzogene) produced carbonated water
for drinks. It had two linked glass globes covered
by a wire mesh (because they sometimes exploded)
which contained water, tartaric acid and sodium
bicarbonate. The device allowed these to be mixed
when dispensed.
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A Spirit Case (or Tantalus) (SCAN)
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Victorian Tantalus
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A Montrachet Wine |
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Wine,
of any kind, was also a perennial favorite at 221B
(SHOS). From "something a little choice in
white wines" (SIGN)
such as Montrachet (some of the world's best Chardonnay
from the Montrachet region in France) to a variety
of reds, 221B often stocked up on excellent wines.
Reds included claret (CARD,
DYIN) and the sweet after dinner wine, port
(GLOR, SIGN, CREE).
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| Holmes
and Watson also partook of "Imperial Tokay"
in LAST.
Imperial Tokay is a sweet white wine from the Tokaj
wine region, about 125 miles east of Budapest, Hungary.
Imperial Tokay was originally made in the Imperial
Austro-Hungarian cellars (thus its "imperial"
name). |
|
.
Tokaji (A Tokay
Wine)
|
Cote de Beune
Wine |
|
Watson,
on occassion, has been known to partake in Beaune
Burgundy wine (made in the French region of Bourgogne)
with lunch (SIGN). |
When
all else failed, they did not hesitate to take a little
beer now and then, as proved by their consumption at
the Alpha Inn's Private Bar in BLUE.
In SCAN, Holmes
took payment for his service as a groom in half-and-half
(half ale / half porter or other bitter beer).
Non
alcoholic drinks included tea (SIGN,
ABBE, GREE), coffee (SIXN,
BLAC, HOUN, SCAN, BERY, NAVA), and cocoa (PRIO),
usually delivered by Mrs. Hudson or the maid (while
Mrs. Hudson still employed the maid). Watson does not
mention what type of tea he or the famous detective
drink, but for the more nostalgic among us, St. James
manufactures a "Sherlock Holmes London Tea."
St.
James Sherlock Holmes London Tea
All
of the tea references in the Canon have been collected
at "Tea
with Sherlock Holmes."
| And,
of course, when on the road, Holmes could put any
of these drinks in his flask (NAVA). |
Victorian era
Flask
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