Wine in the ancient Mediterranean was in a more viscous state and was customarily watered before drinking. Banquet scenes in the Iliad and the Odyssey always described adding and mixing water with wine in a bowl, a little then sprinkled on the ground as share for the Gods, before serving it out to the participants. Imbibed in sufficient quantity, the result was still strong enough to get everybody drunk. Drinking un-watered wine was considered a faux pas and barbaric. But adding flavorings to cheap or bad wine was how one got past the taste.
Thanks!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanilla
OTOH:
https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1038045/posts?page=99#99
“This may be like when they found traces of cocaine on Egyptian mummies.”
Don’t share this tidbit with Hunter Biden. It won’t end well.