Question: A question was asked of what kind of drink Pernod was. It was answered that Pernod was a aniseed aperitiv. What does that mean exactly? What is the definition of aniseed aperitiv? Also a question was asked what difference did the drink make when the waiter added water. The answer given was very unsatisfactory. It was answered by saying water turned the drink from clear to cloudy white. This is obvious as we can see it in the movie but how does adding water to this drink affect the drink itself (besides changing color)?
Question: In Paris right before Jonathon meets Sasha, he orders a drink called Penot or something like that. What kind of drink is this and what difference did it make when he had the waiter add water to it?
Chosen answer: The drink is called "Pernod". It's an aniseed aperitiv, and when you add water to this kind of liquor it turns from clear to cloudy white.
Chosen answer: What was meant was an anise aperitif. Anise is sort of a licorice flavor, while an aperitif is an alcoholic beverage served as an appetizer or with finger foods. I believe it turned cloudy white because the waiter added sugar water. It makes the bitter alcohol more palatable. This drink tradition was begun with absinthe, which was banned in many countries and Pernod is a similar-tasting replacement.
Grumpy Scot