«Эликсир жизни» и другие напитки (из опыта чтения рукописных книг XVIII в.)

“The Elixir of Life” and Other Beverages (From the Experience of Reading 18th-Century Manuscripts). – A considerable portion of 18th century Russian manuscripts consists of texts on the estate economy. The Russian nobility adopted the German tradition of Hausväterliteratur . Within this tradition, the “Liefländische Oeconomia” by S. Hubert remains a preeminent example. The Russian nobles considered it necessary to have reference books on medicine, veterinary science, and agronomy. A common feature of these texts is the inclusion of various recipes for vodka. A close analysis of such recipes, however, reveals that they were likely more decorative than functional; they could hardly have been used to make the drink.

Keywords: 18th Century Russia, Manuscripts, Recipes, Vodka, Botanical Nomenclature