AMERICAN DRINK SLANG.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 295, 12 December 1881, Page 4

AMERICAN DRINK SLANG.

The principle underlying the wellknown fact that the name of a rose has no effect upon its smell would appear not to appiy to drinks and their flavour, if we may trust the programme of potations offered to the thirsty at the American bar of the Covent Garden Promenade Concerts. It is difficult to believe that the two elements of wine and spirits are suspectible of sixty or seventy distirct transformations, and curiosity is awakened as to the state of mind that corresponds to the multiform nomenclature under which refreshments seem to be presented. A "livener," a "cooler," a "nerver",an "appetiser," a "nightcap/ even an eye-opener," appeal to obvious conditions of feeling, The relation between a '-settler" and a "corpse reviver" is also conceivable; but what is the subtle distinction obtaining between "-whisky twist" and "whisky crusts," between "brandy sling" and "brandy scaffs," between "gin cock-tail" and ""Bombay cock-tail," between "President Lincoln" and "General Grant?" How is a fancy for liquids supposed to be stimulated by offers of "white lion" and "prairie oyster?" <■ Flash of lightning" and "thunder" are manifestly arranged for those in need, or in search of a double draught, and we can understand the people who imbibe "parson's AX " tQO - t00 >" »nd even "mother's milk; but what inscrutable beings are they who relish "egg no »g » "straights," "Bangaree," « flip-flap,-' John Collins," « stone-fence," or swizzle?" Probably the difference between " gin skin," "Bourbon skis " and «'rye skin" lies' on the surface; but the ordinary and un-Bacchanalion observer who has mislaid his slan* dictionary is not unlikely to be as much bew,ldered as tempted by this infinite and mysterious wealth of i-hoice. i