Byrrh
Encyclopedia
Byrrh is a blend of red wine and quinine
or tonic water
. Byrrh was created in 1886. It was popular as a French apéritif
. with its marketing and reputation as a "hygienic drink," Byrrh sold well in the early twentieth century. It was even exported, despite a name complicating sales as the word "byrrh" evokes ideas of similarities to "beer" for English- and German-language speakers.
. They mixed dry wines and mistelles. The resulting product was initially marketed as a health drink or tonic. This was because the local aperitif producers were not happy at competition to their established brands. The brothers re-branded the drink as a health drink to get round this problem, and it was sold in pharmacies.
The Second World War initiated the decline of Byrrh. Aided by tax benefits, natural sweet wines such as banyuls, Muscat de Frontignan and Rivesaltes
superseded Byrrh, which went out of fashion. In 1977 the family business, divided by strife, was acquired by Pernod-Ricard.
Pernod Ricard still makes the drink at its facility in Thuir near Perpignan
, part of which was designed by Gustave Eiffel
.
Quinine
Quinine is a natural white crystalline alkaloid having antipyretic , antimalarial, analgesic , anti-inflammatory properties and a bitter taste. It is a stereoisomer of quinidine which, unlike quinine, is an anti-arrhythmic...
or tonic water
Tonic water
Tonic water is a carbonated soft drink in which quinine is dissolved. Originally used as a prophylactic against malaria, tonic water usually now has a significantly lower quinine content and is consumed for its distinctively bitter taste...
. Byrrh was created in 1886. It was popular as a French apéritif
Aperitif
Apéritifs and digestifs are alcoholic drinks that are normally served with meals.-Apéritifs:An apéritif is usually served before a meal to stimulate the appetite. This contrasts with digestifs, which are served after a meal for the purpose of aiding digestion...
. with its marketing and reputation as a "hygienic drink," Byrrh sold well in the early twentieth century. It was even exported, despite a name complicating sales as the word "byrrh" evokes ideas of similarities to "beer" for English- and German-language speakers.
History
Brothers Pallade and Violet Simon, itinerant drapers, decided to take advantage of the wine fever in the region to develop an aperitif wine flavored with cinchonaCinchona
Cinchona or Quina is a genus of about 38 species in the family Rubiaceae, native to tropical South America. They are large shrubs or small trees growing 5–15 metres in height with evergreen foliage. The leaves are opposite, rounded to lanceolate and 10–40 cm long. The flowers are white, pink...
. They mixed dry wines and mistelles. The resulting product was initially marketed as a health drink or tonic. This was because the local aperitif producers were not happy at competition to their established brands. The brothers re-branded the drink as a health drink to get round this problem, and it was sold in pharmacies.
The Second World War initiated the decline of Byrrh. Aided by tax benefits, natural sweet wines such as banyuls, Muscat de Frontignan and Rivesaltes
Rivesaltes
Rivesaltes is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-People:Rivesaltes was the birthplace of Joseph Joffre , general who became prominent in the battles of World War I.-The Rivesaltes memorial museum:...
superseded Byrrh, which went out of fashion. In 1977 the family business, divided by strife, was acquired by Pernod-Ricard.
Pernod Ricard still makes the drink at its facility in Thuir near Perpignan
Perpignan
-Sport:Perpignan is a rugby stronghold: their rugby union side, USA Perpignan, is a regular competitor in the Heineken Cup and seven times champion of the Top 14 , while their rugby league side plays in the engage Super League under the name Catalans Dragons.-Culture:Since 2004, every year in the...
, part of which was designed by Gustave Eiffel
Gustave Eiffel
Alexandre Gustave Eiffel was a French structural engineer from the École Centrale Paris, an architect, an entrepreneur and a specialist of metallic structures...
.