The origin of the aperitif cocktail: from medicinal remedies to afternoon vermouth
by Admin · Nook · Plaça Reial, Barcelona
The act of having an aperitif or vermouth before a meal is one of the most deeply rooted social rituals in Barcelona. However, before becoming synonymous with festive gatherings and relaxation, bitter drinks infused with botanicals were born with a purely pharmaceutical purpose.
From medicinal tonic to urban ritual
The history of vermouth is a fascinating journey through medical botany and distillation.
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Classical Greece and ancient medicine: The Greek physician Hippocrates (5th century BC) is credited with the first maceration of white wine with wormwood flowers (Artemisia absinthium) and dittany to treat digestive ailments and lack of appetite. This medicinal brew was known for centuries as "Hippocratic wine".
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The birth of modern vermouth in Turin (1786): Antonio Benedetto Carpano perfected the recipe in his workshop in Turin by combining white wine with an infusion of more than 30 herbs, spices, and bitter bark, sweetened to balance the bitterness. He named the drink vermouth, adapting the German term wermut (wormwood).
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Rooted in Catalonia (19th century): By the late 19th century, Catalan wineries (with Reus as the vermouth epicenter) began producing their own artisanal vermouths. Having "the vermouth" quickly transformed into the Sunday and evening ritual of Barcelona's society.
The science of aperitifs: why it stimulates appetite
From a physiological perspective, the bitter compounds in vermouth (derived from wormwood, gentian, and citrus peels) stimulate the bitter taste receptors on the tongue. This sends a nerve signal to the vagus nerve, triggering salivation and the secretion of gastric juices in the stomach, biologically preparing the body for digestion.
The experience at NOOK
At NOOK, the aperitif regains its ritual dimension. Its selection of artisanal vermouths and classic cocktails serves as the perfect prologue to whet the appetite before moving on to a session of tapas and grilled dishes in Plaza Real.
Reserve your table at NOOK and start your experience with an authentic aperitif in the heart of Barcelona.
