Of a substance (esp. alcoholic drink) or its taste: pungent, acrid; sharp, piquant; invigorating to the palate. Also in figurative contexts. Cf. sharp…

Of liquors: Agreeably sharp or smarting to the taste; effervescent, as opposed to ‘flat’ or ‘stale’. (So Italian brusco, French vin brusque in…

Of a thing. Of a drink (esp. wine): invigorating, vibrant; (also occasionally) effervescent, sparkling. Later also (of food or flavour): piquant…

Of an alcoholic drink or its taste: lively; pleasantly sharp to the taste. rare until late 20th cent.