draught of the reaper

[sb70012]

She bade Demeter be seated and herself offered her honey-sweet wine, but the goddess would not taste it. She asked instead for barley-water flavored with mint, the cooling draught of the reaper at harvest time and also the sacred cup given the worshipers at Eleusis. Thus refreshed she took the child and held him to her fragrant bosom and his mother's heart was glad. So Demeter nursed Demophoön, the son that Metaneira had borne to wise Celeus.

Source: Mythology The Two Great Gods of Earth Last paragraph

Hello,
I have checked the meaning of "draught" in the dictionaries. But I don't know it refers to "beer" or "air".
Would you please be kind enough to clarify it to me?

Thank you so much

 

[MikeNewYork]

Source: Mythology The Two Great Gods of Earth Last paragraph

Hello,
I have checked the meaning of "draught" in the dictionaries. But I don't know it refers to "beer" or "air".
Would you please be kind enough to clarify it to me?

Thank you so much

It appears that water flavored with mint was her preferred beverage.

 

[bhaisahab]

It appears that water flavored with mint was her preferred beverage.

Barley water flavoured with mint, not plain water.

 

[Grumpy]

Barley water flavoured with mint, not plain water.

Absolutely! What would Wimbledon be without proper Barley Water?

 

[bhaisahab]

Absolutely! What would Wimbledon be without proper Barley Water?

The Ancient Greek reference in this is interesting in view of the OP's context material. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barley_water

 

[SoothingDave]

"The Draught of the Reaper" would be a good name for a microbrew. Or a rock band.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Barley water flavoured with mint, not plain water.

That doesn't sound much better to me! ;-)