A bota bag is a traditional

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

liquid receptacle, used mainly as a

wineskin A wineskin is an ancient type of bottle made of leathered animal skin, usually from goats or sheep, used to store or transport wine. History Its first mentions come from Ancient Greece, where, in the parties called Bacchanalia, dedicated to t ...

. It is often made out of

leather Leather is a strong, flexible and durable material obtained from the tanning, or chemical treatment, of animal skins and hides to prevent decay. The most common leathers come from cattle, sheep, goats, equine animals, buffalo, pigs and hog ...

(when made of goatskin it is known as a goatskin itself), and is typically used to carry

wine Wine is an alcoholic drink typically made from fermented grapes. Yeast consumes the sugar in the grapes and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts are m ...

, although any liquid can be filled into it. Often referred to as a canteen.

Construction

Traditionally, bota bags were lined with goat bladders, in other cases tree

sap Sap is a fluid transported in xylem cells (vessel elements or tracheids) or phloem sieve tube elements of a plant. These cells transport water and nutrients throughout the plant. Sap is distinct from latex, resin, or cell sap; it is a separ ...

or other

resin In polymer chemistry and materials science, resin is a solid or highly viscous substance of plant or synthetic origin that is typically convertible into polymers. Resins are usually mixtures of organic compounds. This article focuses on n ...

s were used to prevent liquids from seeping through. Modern bota bags have a

plastic Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that use polymers as a main ingredient. Their plasticity makes it possible for plastics to be moulded, extruded or pressed into solid objects of various shapes. This adaptab ...

liner and nozzle.

Variants

The ''zahato'' is the traditional goatskin bottle of the Basque shepherds. With its narrow nozzle, it is possible to drink "zurrust", i.e. intercepting the jet without touching the bottle. The name of ''zahato'' or ''zahako'' (variants: ''xahako'' , ''zarako'') is a diminutive ''zahat-to/-ko'' of ''zahagi'' 'big goatskin bottle'. Its manufacturer is a ''zahatogile''. The zahato is made of two pieces of tanned and close-cropped goatskin. Softened, they are cut out on a last and are sewn on their sides. Then the bottle is turned up, seam and hair inside. After drying, it is inflated, then coated with pitch to make it impermeable. The nozzle, traditionally in horn, is fixed by a red collar. The zahato is carried across the shoulder with the red cord which surrounds it along the seam.

Construction

Variants

See also