It's herbalism time!
A true Miruvor-clone I think might use a distilled mead instead of brandy (distilled wine) - but from what I could tell perusing brewer's forums mead isn't typically distilled these days because (legal issues aside) it's just not cost effective, expensive as honey is. So I didn't put a great deal of effort into searching for it, deciding to keep one variable the same across all experiments.
Anyhow, the carrier is brandy for all. Perhaps I can find a high enough proof mead in the future to try a closer "miruvor" clone in the future - in the mean time, brandy's certainly "period" enough for Middle Earth.
So what exactly is the carrier carrying? I started with Greg's recipe, which I have going as a control:
Analyzing that some, I got to thinking.. "okay, the alcohol of course.. then I bet that apple provides a good source of more complex carbs, provided it survives the tincturing process." Specifically I was looking for a somewhat complex starch, figuring that the honey would be a good simple sugar carb-slam for quick energy, but some more complex starches that took a while to break down should lessen the come-down from the sugar and hopefully get some longer-lasting energy into the body.Greg wrote: This recipe is my own, based on the making of 18th century medicinal cordials, which promised to fix a myriad of ailments, though only successfully clear the sinuses, warm the chest, soothe the throat, and a few other choice remedies.
The recipe, unlike a period-correct one, uses ingredients specifically referenced in Tolkien. It began with a Korbel Brandy, 40-proof, which is where the warmth, kick, and painkilling come from. That's also what provides the bulletproof shelf-life. Keep it sealed, and you're set forever.
Next, I steeped the following ingredients in it for a full six weeks, shaking/mixing it each day, never opening:
Sliced apples, raisins, sage, & thyme.
This adds new flavor to the Brandy, and "additional medicinal qualities" if you use herbs with additional qualities. I stuck with ingredients we know exist in the north/west of Middle-Earth.
So I decided to run 4 tests: potato (Hobbits have 'em!), apple, wheat berries, and oat groats.
After that I perused lots of herbalism websites and books for what might help deep body fatigue and achiness. These are my resulting recipes:
Tincture I:
1 cup(ish) brandy
1 potato
1 Tbsp Nettle Leaf
1 Tbsp Rosemary
1 tsp Valerian Root
- once tincture infused, mix 2 parts tincture: 1 part honey
Tincture II:
1 cup(ish) brandy
1 apple
1 Tbsp Licorice Root
2 Tbsp Peppermint Leaf
- once tincture infused, mix 2 parts tincture: 1 part honey
Tincture III:
1 cup(ish) brandy
¾ cup (ish) whole oats
1 Tbsp Basil leaf
1 Tbsp Nettle Seed
2 Tbsp Nettle Leaf
- once tincture infused, mix 2 parts tincture: 1 part honey
Tincture IV:
1 cup(ish) brandy
¾ cup (ish) whole hard white wheat grains
1 Tbsp Basil leaf
1 Tbsp Nettle Seed
2 Tbsp Nettle Leaf
- once tincture infused, mix 2 parts tincture: 1 part honey
In practice, I cut back all the starches just for room in the jar. Nettle seed is REALLY tiny, so it's more like 1/2 tsp in III and IV.
Also, III and IV each got a little cutting of my window kingsfoil....err.. Globe Basil.
And here we are! Sitting in the pantry for 6 weeks or so, along with a 2-3 week old Greg's Apple "Ranger Cordial."
Of course, after all that I realized I forgot the most obvious folk remedy for achy muscles: salcylic acid / asprin! Drat! Anyhow, some willow bark is on the way for a Test V.
Analysis
I realize I'm juggling several variables simultaneously here, but as a first run I think it will really help narrow down some awesomeness.
Things I've noticed right off:
1. I don't like the valerian. It's got a druggy-mind-cloudy sense to it. Perhaps I just used too much, but I can't say I'm fond of what I smell. I don't think Tincture I will be a success.
2. Tincture II smells sweet and yummy. I think it will be delicious, but I've no idea how medicinal it will be.
3. I really like the oat-groat base. The groats have a nutty sweet-but-not-too sweet flavor and fulfilled-ed-ness sense to them that I think will really help III.
4. Tinctures III and IV smell *really* good - "wholesome and healing" is what my nose tells me. IV is slightly sweeter-smelling than III, but both are wonderful. The fresh basil really puts them over the top. I'm very optimistic about these: especially III.
5. The one thing I'm NOT certain about III/IV: a little more reading I've done since researching recipes and ordering ingredients is that the nettles are used more for adrenal fatigue: which means it's possible a young healthy man who's just tired from time out in the cold might not get the same benefit as someone with more chronic issues. I'm not certain on that point however- plenty of time for experimentation when they're done.
Now for the hard part. The waiting.