I'm currently reading A Hangman's Diary by Franz Schmidt, and there are some references to a "strengthening draught" that was given to the condemned as they were walking to be executed. It is referred to as the "Stärkenden Trunk" in german. What is this draught, and what was it's purpose?
OP, if you're interested, there is a recent (English, sorry) study of Schmidt and early modern German executions--Joel Harrington's The Faithful Executioner. Harrington goes into civic archives and chronicles to fill in a lot of the context surrounding little mentions in the diary itself. (The alcohol is mentioned, yes, for its utility in keeping the "poor sinner" stumbling drunk to the point of not resisting so much.) You might find it useful.