16th Century – Alchemists & Quintessence
While local alchemists working in castles across Europe had attempted to find the fifth element, the quintessence, and make gold out of – well, whatever they could, cordial making spread.
In the late 16th Century Princess Anna of Sachsen was famed for making concoctions against all sorts of illnesses, some of them allegedly even tasted good. Sadly, her recipes all disappeared to the great disappointment of her brother King Frederik II of Denmark, who died in 1588. When the minister spoke at the king’s burial, he more than hinted towards the royal’s intake of herb alcohol by saying “But death must have a cause”.