The wine served on board as a complement to the daily ration of water—which quickly became undrinkable—was of very poor quality. The best wine was kept in glass bottles commonly called “onion bottles” because of their bulbous shape resembling an onion, which provided stability. These bottles were manufactured in England, the Netherlands, France, and Germany from the 17th century until the mid-18th century, and later in Portugal, where their shape evolved to forms similar to those used today. They were also used to contain other liquids, notably pharmaceutical and medicinal products, and, by using a wick soaked in flammable liquid inserted through the cork, were even transformed into weapons. This bottle, found intact in the bay of Angra do Heroísmo, is part of the Archaeology Management Unit’s collection.
