scotch whisky - water of life
I wanted to investigate the history of my favorite potable from Scotland, and chanced upon this:
Scotland's great Renaissance king, James IV (1488-1513) was fond of 'ardent spirits'. When the king visited Dundee in 1506, the treasury accounts record a payment to the local barber for a supply of aqua vitae for the king's pleasure. The reference to the barber is not surprising. In 1505, the Guild of Surgeon Barbers in Edinburgh was granted a monopoly over the manufacture of aqua vitae - a fact that reflects the spirits perceived medicinal properties as well as the medicinal talents of the barbers.
In all sobriety, I fully vouch for the medicinal properties of a good Scotch, but I would love to meet a barber that can serve as haircutter, shrink, doctor and bartender!
Scotland's great Renaissance king, James IV (1488-1513) was fond of 'ardent spirits'. When the king visited Dundee in 1506, the treasury accounts record a payment to the local barber for a supply of aqua vitae for the king's pleasure. The reference to the barber is not surprising. In 1505, the Guild of Surgeon Barbers in Edinburgh was granted a monopoly over the manufacture of aqua vitae - a fact that reflects the spirits perceived medicinal properties as well as the medicinal talents of the barbers.
In all sobriety, I fully vouch for the medicinal properties of a good Scotch, but I would love to meet a barber that can serve as haircutter, shrink, doctor and bartender!
posted by mani g. iyer at
8:04 PM
1 Comments:
The barber, he gives you a hair cut. Its really bad, but he, the shrink, convinces you that its ok and that you'll get over it. You then notice a nick around the ears that is bleeding. He dabs its with some antiseptic (the doctor) but you are not going to let it go so easily. He then gives you a drink to shut you up (the bartender).
Now isn't there a fancy hair-salon in your town that actually gives you a glass of wine while you get your hair attended to?
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