The Molotov Cocktail: One Cocktail You Don't Want To Drink

The Molotov Cocktail is not a cocktail you would want to order at a restaurant. To give you an idea of what kind of cocktail it is also known as the Molotov Bomb. I'm sure as you have guessed this is actually a bomb, called cocktail due to it's bottle container filled with gasoline or other flammable product and a wick of sorts to set the product ablaze. They are treated much like a a hand grenade, tossing them at their opponent and awaiting the explosion. Although it does not instantly destroy them like a grenade, rather sets the target on fire, slowly burning its way to destruction. Often times in order to make sure the object is set on fire, they will add a thickening substance to the cocktail to make sure it not only catches ablaze, but stays ablaze. It became popular due to it's cheapness to make, and the availability of its supplies.

Molotov Cocktail was named after Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov. During World War II, Molotov was the people's commissar for foreign affairs in the Soviet Union. He was neither the creator nor the first to use them. Actually, it was named to mock him, because he Finnish Army would use them against the Soviet Union during Winter War and Continuation War. They even mass produced them dubbing them Molotov cocktails.

When first coined after Vyacheslav Molotov, the Finns had claimed they were sending bread baskets to the staving Soviets. Instead they sent down a large bomb and called it the "Molotov Bread Baskets." As they sent the Molotov Cocktails, they often would say, "a drink to go with the food."

Although they were named after an enemy during these conflicts, the Finnish were not the first to use them. They were actually first used in the Spanish Civil War in 1936-1939. A Spaniard General Francisco Franco had encouraged many to use these against the Soviet tanks throughout this time. Although they obviously called it by a different names, most likely a fire bomb, fire bottle, petrol bomb, or gasoline bomb. Although even today it is more commonly known as the Molotov Cocktail, Molotov Bomb, or just plain Molotov.

The Molotov Cocktail is almost always made within a glass bottle, usually a glass pop bottle or wine bottle, filled with an explosive product, but not all the way full. Usually gasoline or other flammable product like alcohol that would cause an explosion. Then the top is sealed airtight with rubber or other item that would allow an airtight seal. Then through the seal a wick of some sort, whether it be an actual wick or a rag. The rag or wick is lit, then thrown. When it shatters, the gasoline spreads through the air,which will cause the area to be lit ablaze. In war they often will throw it at a tank or vehicle which will maximize the damage to their opponent. Some thickening products are often used in the Molotov Cocktail. Some of these products include sugar, tar, egg whites, animal blood, motor oil, rubber cement, or dish soap. This allows for the fire to burn longer, and cause more damage. Without this, the fire may end, before any damage is caused.

Although this cocktail was supposed to be used during war, it has been used in more modern times for worse purposes. On April 20, 1999, when Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold entered their High School in Columbine, Harris threw a Molotov bomb in the library. Fortunately, it did not explode, and was not used successfully, although the run thrown in the cafeteria by Klebold did explode. Fire sprinklers distinguished it.

It has been brought to my attention that you can in fact can make a Molotov Cocktail that you can drink. Apparently, it' s delicious, which I have to admit does not sound very good to me. One serving of the drink is made as below:

Ingredients
1 1/2 oz vodka
1 splash 151 proof rum

Although it's important to know how to drink it. First you pour in the vodka, apparently it tastes best with Russian vodka. You then place the splash of the 151 proof rum. Then you ignite the drink and blow it out before you drink it! I have to admit, I'm not going to be trying it anytime soon.

Now we often will see Molotov cocktails used during both movies and video games, although it is not as common during war as it was during the twentieth century.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molotov_cocktail
• http://chemistry.about.com/od/firecombustionchemistry/a/molotovcocktail.htm