Marwan El-AsmarThe Islamic Golden Years of a Lebanese Wine?Afghanistan, Iran, and Saudi Arabia claim to be Islamic states, and while they defer from each other in many aspects, they unanimously…Apr 5, 2023Apr 5, 2023
Marwan El-AsmarAraq, Raki, Ouzo, and the Birth of White MagicCountries of the East Mediterranean pride themselves of their national distilled liquors, the Greek “ouzo”, Turkish “raki”, and Lebanese…Mar 7, 20221Mar 7, 20221
Marwan El-AsmarOn the Origin of Fun in Distilled Liquors (or the Story of Araq)My father waited for his children to reach adulthood before he could finally focus on his alcoholic passion: araq, a distilled liquor…Mar 26, 2021Mar 26, 2021
Marwan El-AsmarAlcoholic Paternity Test: Are the Mongols the True Fathers of Vodka?In 1386, Genoese ambassadors came to Moscow and presented the Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy with a curious beverage called “water of life”…Sep 3, 2020Sep 3, 2020
Marwan El-AsmarThe Strange Case of Dr. Alderotti and the Arabic Liquor in Europe(Note: I am grateful to Dr. Jelena Mrgić and Dr. Gordan Ravančić who responded thoughtfully to the emails of a stranger enquiring about…May 9, 2020May 9, 2020
Marwan El-AsmarAlcohol: the Story of an Arabic Eyeliner that got Drunk in EuropeThe word “alcohol” is an Arab immigrant that entered European languages during the Middle Ages. Like many other Arabic words, the “al” at…Sep 13, 20191Sep 13, 20191
Marwan El-AsmarAraq: an Alcoholic Word Hunt Along a Middle Eastern TrailIn Lebanon and Syria, people will use the same word to designate “sweat” and an aniseed-flavored distilled drink: “arak” or “araq”, as it…Jun 23, 2019Jun 23, 2019
