When the bible refers to strong drink does it mean whiskey.?

Question

the technology existed.
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Robert Léauté presented the James F. Guymon Lecture at the 40th, Annual Meeting of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture in Anaheim, California, on 30 June 1989. Léauté has been with Rémy Martin since 1973 and is currently Head Cognac Master, Research and Development Manager, and RMS Vineyards Technical Advisor. The text of his presentation has been edited for publication, but not subjected to the normal review process.


History of Distillation
Alambic Distillation is a very old technique, which was, used by the Chinese 3000 years BC, the East Indians 2500 years BC, the Egyptians 2000 years BC, the Greeks1000 years BC, and the Romans 200 years BC. In the beginning, all of the above cultures produced a liquid, later called alcohol by the Arabs, which was used for medicinal purposes and to make perfumes.

bottoms up

Answer 1

There is a strong possibility!!

Answer 2

No it does not refer to whiskey. Whiskey is the distilled product of a fermented liquid. The reason whiskey production arose is that it is not possible to grow grapes and produce wine in the northern lattitudes - Scotland, Sweden, etc.

So in the Bible's time most of the alcoholic beverages would have been either made out of grapes (wine), grain (beer) or honey (mead) because the people of the Bible are Mediterranean, a region where grapes grow well (allegedly the first grape sub-species originated in Muskat) and where any of these "bases" grew in abundance and could ferment easily.

But if you read about the Greek custom of watering down wine at banquets (read the Odyssey), what is most likely referred to in the Bible is the straight consumption of wine without the admixture of water. The maximum percent you can get out of these is about 12-14% tops, whereas modern Scotch Whiskey is at least 40% (80 proof). So I guess the Bible was just trying to preach moderation.

By the way most Scots in the old country still drink their whiskey with water in it. Not a bad Idea.

Bottoms up!

Answer 3

While the technology might have been in place, I doubt the common people of the day had access to whiskey. It would more likely be grape wine or wine made from other fruits. It may have also been beer. Both were produced by commoners.

Answer 4

I think it's referring to anything with a stronger alcohol content than the standard quick wine that had a very low alcohol content compared to todays table wines that people drank (due to poor/or contaminated water sources that were so common) So a fortified wine or greater would qualify.

Answer 5

Yes, whiskey would count as "strong drink," but I don't think the Bible meant whiskey specifically or exclusively.

Answer 6

Yes, whiskey falls under the "strong drink" category.

Answer 7

Nope, the bible is obviously referring to the strongest drink known to man, the "jaeger bomb" which the technology existed to create then, (ie jesus, he's the man with that kind of stuff, like MacGuyver on a ritalin binge)

Answer 8

Well it might not be whiskey, but it definitely is a drink that you could become intoxicated from.

Answer 9

Whiskey is also called "Hard Liquor." So maybe that can help you out.

Answer 10

I'd be willing to guess it is mead.