Comments on: Help identifying an empty German flask I found?

Question: Help identifying an empty German flask I found?

Smart Dalek — Mon, 12 Jan 2004 15:32:15 -0800

I'd like some help identifying an empty flask I found in a drawer.
It's from Germany, and bears the inscription "Herrenberger Blutwurzelansatz / Weinhaus Gläßer / Brennerei Herrenberg / Deutsches Erzeugnis".
The bottle is at least 10-12 years old, and doesn't mention any overseas distributor. Could it have held an herbal wine, or a liqueur?

By: Jimbob

Jimbob — Mon, 12 Jan 2004 16:23:35 -0800

I reckon it's schnapps - the most important part is the "Blutwurzelansatz" part, which in my pathetic German translates literally as "Blood root start". Herrenberger is probably the brand name and where it was made, and the rest is just saying who made it and that it was made in Germany.

"Blood root" appears to be a medicinal herb, possibly Sanguinaria canadensis.

By: Jimbob

Jimbob — Mon, 12 Jan 2004 16:38:31 -0800

Actually, it's more likely to be Potentilla erecta, another medicinal herb.

By: Ljubljana

Ljubljana — Mon, 12 Jan 2004 16:39:49 -0800

What JimBob said. It sounds like an herbal schnapps, most likely from Herrenberg near Stuttgart.

This site suggests that Blutwurzel is potentilla erecta, which is a cinquefoil. It mentions that it can be used to treat diarrhea, or as a mouthwash.

By: Ljubljana

Ljubljana — Mon, 12 Jan 2004 16:44:02 -0800

Curse you Jimbob! :)

By: darkpony

darkpony — Tue, 13 Jan 2004 01:05:21 -0800

also a Brauerei is a brewery and the 'Brenner' in Brennerei means 'Burner'... So Brennerei is like a brewery with more burning?
a burnerery?!

By: Smart Dalek

Smart Dalek — Tue, 13 Jan 2004 13:16:20 -0800

darkpony - sounds like you've described a distillery...

But why couldn't they just say that? ;-)

Thanks to all for your help!