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A swizzle stick is a small stick used to stir drinks. The original swizzle sticks were created in the 18th century at a
A swizzle stick is a small stick used to stir drinks. The original swizzle sticks were created in the 18th century at a rum
Rum is a liquor made by fermenting and then distilling sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice. The distillate, a clear liquid, is often aged in barrels of oak. Rum originated in the Caribbean in the 17th century, but today it is produced i ...
plantation in the West Indies using the branch
A branch, also called a ramus in botany, is a stem that grows off from another stem, or when structures like veins in leaves are divided into smaller veins.
History and etymology
In Old English, there are numerous words for branch, includ ...
of the '' Quararibea turbinata'' (also known as the "Swizzle stick tree"). In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, stir sticks made of glass were created to shake out the bubbles from champagne
Champagne (; ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, which demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, spe ...
, whose carbonation caused indigestion for some drinkers.
Swizzle sticks became particularly ornate with the advent of themed establishments such as the tiki bar
A tiki bar is a themed drinking establishment that serves elaborate cocktails, especially rum-based mixed drinks such as the Mai Tai and Zombie cocktails. Tiki bars are aesthetically defined by their tiki culture décor which is based upon a rom ...
and are sometimes kept as a souvenir or collected.
See also
* '' Quararibea turbinata''References
External links
* * {{Bartend Products introduced in 1933 Bartending equipment Culture of the Caribbean Cocktail garnishes Rums