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| Named after a GNW battle What next? |
On the road with Bazza... Vaasa, Northern Finland 20 April 2016.
So, here I am in Vaasa, Finland (pop 60,000) earning Mrs Hilton's lunch money. My client takes me out to dinner in an Italian restaurant and we are presented with a special looking drink.
I am informed that it is 'officially the best gin and tonic on the planet'. Interesting for a gin soaked connoisseur expertly trained by the Richard Sharpe of the juniper berry, the aforementioned Mrs H.
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| Napue, Isokyro, Storkyro.. whatever.. it was a battle! |
Award winning, locally distilled, 17 herbs - Napue Gin. The introductory speech was given by a pleasant young man and in his monologue he mentioned that the gin was named after the well- known local Battle of Napue (pronounced Naa pooo ey) which took place in 1714.
Whoa there young fella, 1714? He raced on, we did the toast and off he went. I chased after him. I enjoyed your speech, you mentioned the gin was named after a battle in 1714 right? Yes it was. In the Great Northern War? pardon? Against the Russians? Yes that's right. Who was fighting the Finns or the Swedes? Hmmm not sure but there is a memorial outside town.
Having scoffed the nosh and back at the hotel I looked it up - The Battle of Storkyro (in Finnish- Isokyro) 1714. 4,500 Finns under Armfeldt went down in a blaze of glory against 9,000 Russians under Golitsyn. Flank march, possible desertions, last stand... it has the lot.
Have a look at the link here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Storkyro
The description is graphic and informative. The 'Great Wrath' followed and the hardship of the local Finns resulted in the locally held belief..
"Even when fried in butter a Russian is still a Russian"
It looks like a battle I want to try.
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| Don't know if it was snowing then but it was snowing today! |
The gin was good too although I think the claim of best on the planet may be somewhat hyperbolic.
India on Friday, I wonder if I'll get near any 1690s vintage colonial forts after I earn my corn?