# Alpa Francovka.... the fuck is it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 17, 2018, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpa-francovka-the-fuck-is-it/818070 "2018-07-17T08:22:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hoodligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d9b06d/32.png) [@Hoodligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoodligan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpa-francovka-the-fuck-is-it/818070/1 "2018-07-17T08:22:41Z")
Just posted this in an old thread… no one is going to see it… my grandma passed away… so I had to clean out her house… got to the liquor cab… found the regular…rum, gin, vodka, scotch, whiskey… and this bottle… scary looking. Clear, no date or % on it… just a lable… Alpa Francovka… did a google search… they make aftershave and skin cream… and stuff to put on sore muscles… but it was in her liquor cab. The smell… easily 100 proof or more…was gma just an alky? Or is this some long lost and happily forgotten bottle of liquor from a long lost era? ---
**Author:** ![Hoodligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d9b06d/32.png) [@Hoodligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoodligan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpa-francovka-the-fuck-is-it/818070/2 "2018-07-17T08:24:01Z")
Gonna check in hourly…seriously wanna know ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpa-francovka-the-fuck-is-it/818070/3 "2018-07-17T08:58:29Z")
Embrocation - don’t drink it - rub it on. A quick search gave me this: > [@](#): > > Alcohol solution of essential oils containing various ingredients (menthol, linalool, nerol etc.) plus other aromatic extracts. > > Use: Tried and trusted domestic preparation for soothing pain and discomfort - arthritic and muscular rheumatism, colds, provides relief from fatigue, after exceptional physical stress, after strain or exertion from sports activities. It is also a welcome aid to guard against bedsores for those confined to their beds for a longer period of time; it is also the first choice for those suffering from toothache or stomach disorders. > > [https://www.halusky.co.uk/czech-slovak-foods/alpa-francovka-embrocation-160ml.html#.W02vQdJKiUk](https://www.halusky.co.uk/czech-slovak-foods/alpa-francovka-embrocation-160ml.html#.W02vQdJKiUk) ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpa-francovka-the-fuck-is-it/818070/4 "2018-07-17T09:01:50Z")
It’s some kind of Czech herbal tincture or tonic. People use it for all sorts of stuff including rubbing on muscles and such. But there are [drink](http://www.pragueartelstyleblog.com/dining-drinking/5-retro-fab-czech-cocktails.aspx) recipes for it as well. - \*Alpa Francovka is an inexpensive tonic of sorts. Found in drugstores and supermarkets everywhere, its used by Czechs for everything from sweaty feet to toothaches. It’s also favored by students and the less fortunate for its alcoholic properties. \* I’ve heard it taste absolutely terrible! ---
**Author:** ![Hoodligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d9b06d/32.png) [@Hoodligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoodligan)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpa-francovka-the-fuck-is-it/818070/5 "2018-07-17T09:12:10Z")
Thanks for the info… it smells like camp fuel… just wondering why it was in the liquor cabinet… 😛 Even the drink recipes look/sound terrible. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpa-francovka-the-fuck-is-it/818070/6 "2018-07-17T10:04:48Z")
Sounds like this stuff has already been immortalised in song > [@](#): > > Courtesy of **Big Audio Dynamite** > > The stuff we sell is just the best > Passing all consumer test > Days of heaven nights of sin > Voodoo stick and sharks fin > When all around you seems like hell > Just one sip will make you well > Multipurpose in a jar > If you ain`t ill it`ll fix your car > In days of yore for all bad feelings > Washing socks and stripping ceilings > Nowadays its used medicinally > For all known human malady ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpa-francovka-the-fuck-is-it/818070/7 "2018-07-17T14:57:43Z")
It was in the liquor cabinet, huh? Hmm, what did she die of? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpa-francovka-the-fuck-is-it/818070/8 "2018-07-17T15:32:32Z")
> [@Hoodligan](#): > > Thanks for the info… it smells like camp fuel… just wondering why it was in the liquor cabinet… 😛 When gram was feeling arthritic, she liked to rub the stuff on her aching joints. She also liked to take a little nip to speed things along. This saved her a separate trip. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpa-francovka-the-fuck-is-it/818070/9 "2018-07-17T16:00:02Z")
Just want to say, that if she had a liquor cabinet crammed with all sorts of stuff, that shows she wasn’t an alcoholic. You want to know what an alcoholic’s liquor cabinet looks like? Empty. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpa-francovka-the-fuck-is-it/818070/10 "2018-07-17T22:30:26Z")
In current production, it appears to be made with denatured alcohol. Denatured alcohol is not potable, by design. Often they add methanol, which can blind or kill you. According to the [Czech wikipedia page](https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpa#Francovka_ALPA), it’s “60% denaturovaný Ethanol (denaturační činidlo neuvedeno)” which apparently means “60% denatured ethyl alcohol (denaturant not specified).” It’s entirely possible that decades ago they used ethyl alcohol without a denaturant and it was perfectly safe to drink, even if it doesn’t sound very appetizing. I wouln’t take a chance though. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpa-francovka-the-fuck-is-it/818070/11 "2018-07-17T22:36:25Z")
It used to be not uncommon to sell booze as a “lineament” or the like, to get around alcohol laws (prohibiting it or taxing it or whatever). Maybe some people really did rub it on sore muscles, but I’d be surprised if that was the actual primary use. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpa-francovka-the-fuck-is-it/818070/12 "2018-07-17T23:04:28Z")
> [@Hoodligan](#): > > Thanks for the info… it smells like camp fuel… just wondering why it was in the liquor cabinet… 😛 > > Even the drink recipes look/sound terrible. Now if it had been Becherovka, we’d be asking for invites. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpa-francovka-the-fuck-is-it/818070/13 "2018-07-17T23:06:38Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Now if it had been Becherovka, we’d be asking for invites. I do love me some Becherovka. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alpa-francovka-the-fuck-is-it/818070/14 "2018-07-17T23:38:55Z")
She may have kept it in the liquor cabinet because that’s where all the stuff the kids don’t get to drink gets stored.