Falernum

Falernum and ice

Falernum is a sweet syrup or (alcoholic) liqueur for Caribbean and tropical drinks. It contains aromas of almonds , ginger and / or cloves , limes and sometimes vanilla or allspice . Similar to Orgeat , falernum is used to prepare cocktails , or it can be enjoyed on the rocks .

Falernum can be both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. It has a thick consistency with a white to slightly amber color and varies from clear to slightly transparent.

There are reports of Falernum going back to the 18th century, probably in Barbados . For example, in the literary magazine All the Year Round , published by Charles Dickens, Jr. , in 1892, an unnamed author described Falernum as "an interesting alcoholic beverage made from rum and lime juice."

The first known mention in a bar manual is from the 1930s. One manufacturer (see below) claims that its recipe dates back to 1890 and received awards as early as 1923.

Well-known drinks with Falernum are the Rum Swizzle , Don the Beachcomber's versions of the Zombie and Mai Tai , Royal Bermuda Yacht Club , Corn N 'Oil , some Rum Collins variations and the White Lion .

The Company Fee Brothers produces a non-alcoholic version, and John D. Taylor's Velvet Falernum an alcoholic version, available in the US. The Bitter Truth presented their Golden Falernum in 2011 , available in Europe, the US and Asia. A Lucky Falernum is available from Brovo Spirits , a nut-free version by Danny Shapiro since 2015.

Web links

Commons : Falernum - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

^ Sean Carrington, Henry Fraser: A ~ Z of Barbados Heritage . Macmillan Caribbean, 2003, ISBN 0-333-92068-6 , Falernum, pp. 74 (English): “A liqueur made basically from rum, lime and sugar. The origin of the name is something of a mystery. The authoritative Grossman's Guide states falernum was invented in Barbados over 200 years ago and was named after Falernum wine, which was much prized by the Romans. There is a joke making the rounds which purports to explain how falernum got its name. In one version, the tourist, after tasting the drink, ask the old man how he made this delicious liqueur. After a few moments hesitation the old Barbadian replies 'you have fuh learn um' (you have to learn it). For those interested in making their own, the following is reproduced from Mrs. H Graham Yearwoods's (1911) West Indian and Other Recipes : 'For 30 gallons of falernum: 9 gal. Rum, 3 gal. Lime juice, 1 gal. Milk, 1/2 gal brandy, 56 lbs. sugar, 1/2 oz. bitter almond, 1/4 oz. mace. To fine it, add 1 gal. Of milk. ' Rum and falernum constitute the drink known as Corn 'n Oil or' Corning Oil '. The traditional rum cocktail is simply rum and sugar of rum and falernum shaken with ice and a dash of Angostura Aromatic Bitter. "
↑ Dickens, Charles, All the Year Round , Our Quarters in Barbados, March 12, 1892, p. 257, ( limited preview in Google Book Search).
^ Arnold Bitner, Phoebe Beach: Hawaii Tropical Rum Drinks & Cuisine by Don the Beachcomber . Mutual Pub Co, 2001, ISBN 1-56647-491-4 .

[1] Sean Carrington, Henry Fraser: A ~ Z of Barbados Heritage . Macmillan Caribbean, 2003, ISBN 0-333-92068-6 , Falernum, pp. 74 (English): “A liqueur made basically from rum, lime and sugar. The origin of the name is something of a mystery. The authoritative Grossman's Guide states falernum was invented in Barbados over 200 years ago and was named after Falernum wine, which was much prized by the Romans. There is a joke making the rounds which purports to explain how falernum got its name. In one version, the tourist, after tasting the drink, ask the old man how he made this delicious liqueur. After a few moments hesitation the old Barbadian replies 'you have fuh learn um' (you have to learn it). For those interested in making their own, the following is reproduced from Mrs. H Graham Yearwoods's (1911) West Indian and Other Recipes : 'For 30 gallons of falernum: 9 gal. Rum, 3 gal. Lime juice, 1 gal. Milk, 1/2 gal brandy, 56 lbs. sugar, 1/2 oz. bitter almond, 1/4 oz. mace. To fine it, add 1 gal. Of milk. ' Rum and falernum constitute the drink known as Corn 'n Oil or' Corning Oil '. The traditional rum cocktail is simply rum and sugar of rum and falernum shaken with ice and a dash of Angostura Aromatic Bitter. "

[2] Dickens, Charles, All the Year Round , Our Quarters in Barbados, March 12, 1892, p. 257, ( limited preview in Google Book Search).

[3] Arnold Bitner, Phoebe Beach: Hawaii Tropical Rum Drinks & Cuisine by Don the Beachcomber . Mutual Pub Co, 2001, ISBN 1-56647-491-4 .