Drinks of the Day: St. Moritz Cocktails & Wines

St. Moritz (Mauritius) was born in Thebes, Egypt and may have been black.  He rose through the ranks of the Roman Army to become leader of the all-Christian Theban Legion of 6,600 soldiers.   While deployed to Gaul (France), the legion was decimated (1 of every 10 soldiers beaten to death) for refusing to worship idols or to attack Christians.   They still refused, and another 10% were beaten to death.  They still refused, and all of them were beaten to death. 

The site of the massacre was called Argaunum and is now called Saint-Maurice-en-Valais in Switzerland.

St. Maurice was the patron of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and his sword and spurs were used in the coronation of their emperors until that empire ended in 1916.

Many towns and villages in Europe are named for St. Maurice.

St. Moritz’s feast day is September 22.

St. Moritz Cocktail:

            1 oz. kummel liqueur

            ¾ oz. scotch

            1 lemon wedge for garnish

Kummel is a caraway-seed liqueur from Germany that may be hard to find in the USA, so might substitute another herbal liqueur.

Maurice Cocktail:

            1 oz. gin

            ½ oz. sweet vermouth

            ½ oz. dry vermouth

            ½ oz. orange juice

            1 dash aromatic bitters or pastis

Wines:

            Switzerland produces several white and red wines from the Saint-Maurice-en-Valais region.

            France has over 60 communes named after St. Maurice including several that produce St. Mauritius wines including Cotes du Rhone Villages Saint –Maurice-sur-Eygues.

            St. Maurice is the patron saint of Austria which produces wines in his name.

            The Piedmont area of Italy exports several wines named for St. Maurice to the USA.

The island of Sardinia and Manresa in Spain produce wines in his honor.

Beers:

            Sorry, there are no beers named for St. Maurice

Toast of the Day:

            St. Maurice is the patron saint of the pope’s Swiss Guard, and they will be celebrating him today.

            Raise your glass to St. Maurice and the Swiss Guards and in the words of St. Maurice say, “May we perish innocent rather than live guilty!”

From Drinking With The Saints: The Sinner’s Guide To A Holy Happy Hour