AMERICAN DRINK SLANG.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6255, 3 December 1881, Page 7

AMERICAN DRINK SLANG.

The principle underlying the well-kno'vn fact that the name of a rose has no eff.'ct upon its smell would appear not to apply 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 susceptible of sixty or seventy distinct transformations, and curiosity is awakened as to the state of mind that correspond to the multiform nomenclature under which refreshments seem to be presented. A "livener," a "cooler," a "nerver," an "appetiser," a "nightcap," even an "eyeopener," 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 scalfs," between "gin cock-tail" and "Bombay cock-tail," between " President Lincoln" and " General Grant ?" How is a fancy for liquids supposed to be stimu lated 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 delight," "too-too," and «ven "mother's milk;" but what inscrutable beings are they who relish "egg-nogg," "straights," "sangaree," "flip-flap," "John Collins, "stone-fence," or " swizzle?" Probably the diflerence between "gin skin," "Bourhon skin," and "rye skin" lies on the surface ; but the ordinary aud un-Bacclia-nalian observer who has mislaid his slang dictionary is not unlikely to be as much bewildred as tempted by this infinite and mysterious wealth of choice.