Used throughout human history to cure a myriad of ills, alcohol has always been a central component of medicine—until recently. Despite its less-than-stellar reputation among health experts, there's still virtue to be found in modern alcohol. Here, we round up the most promising elixirs for health and happiness.
For much of its long history, alcohol has been seen as a force for the betterment of the human body. From Chinese snake wines drunk to increase male virility, and the Chartreuse herbal liqueurs of 17th-century Carthusian monks, to the gin and tonic, which was consumed in British India to ward off malaria, alcohol has variously nourished and replenished our mortal constitutions, while also extracting toxins and defending us from external pestilence.
Of course, modern science has shown the actual effects of alcohol to be otherwise, shifting its role in society to that of enabling merriment. Still, as in any field there exists a spectrum, and who isn't to say that, on a responsible night out, we can be informed to pick one probiotic-rich cocktail over, say, a Gibson? In other words, those looking to minimise their guilt while enjoying the fruits of the bar industry will find it in the following list of vitamin and fibre-rich cocktails, temperance be damned. À votre santé!
Disclaimer: This article does not provide medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding your health.
1. The Daily Tot's PB&G
While British sailors drunk on 'kill-devil' isn't exactly the picture of health, the thinking behind the British Navy's tradition of handing out daily rum rations to Her Majesty's seamen was that the spirit, when mixed with lemon juice and water to create 'grog', was more sanitary than plain water, and also helped to ward off scurvy thanks to the vitamin C in the citrus.
The Daily Tot presents a rather more palatable modern take on grog in the PB&G, which combines Plantation's Stiggins Fancy Pineapple rum cooked sous-vide with basil, Petite Verveine, yuzu cordial, fresh guava juice and egg white. Verveine was originally created by a French herbalist in the 19th century using lemon verbena, a herb prized since Roman times for its medicinal qualities, helping to alleviate everything from indigestion to fevers, asthma and joint pain. The filler of guava juice, apart from its ability to transport the mind to more tropical climes, is also packed with nutrients such as Vitamin C, antioxidants and fibre. No doubt you'll be left in shipshape after sipping on this concoction.
The Daily Tot, Shop E, LG/F, Felicity Building, 58 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong; +852 2366 6836