Did Colonial Era Americans really imbibe from breakfast till bedtime?
While we think of the Founding Fathers and Founding Mothers as prim and proper, the truth may be that our Colonial ancestors “swam in a sea of booze from breakfast till bedtime,” according to Serious Eats.
“Whether they were working, writing, selling goods, getting married, or even fighting, early Americans were often tipsy — their incessant drinking a cultural extension of Old World beliefs that fermented beverages were safer than water. The Colonial Era day didn’t begin until after a dram of bitters or stiffener of beer.”
In fact, by the time the Revolutionary War began, the adults of the 13 Colonies reportedly drank the equivalent of several shots every day.
What were they imbibing? Click here to find out.
Sources: Serious Eats
Words of Wisdom
How do you make a colonial-style flip? This popular drink during the Colonial era was simple to make. Here's how: Fill a pitcher with two beaten eggs, two ounces of rum, and a tablespoon of superfine sugar (or molasses) and beat to combine. In a saucepan, heat eight to 10 ounces of brown ale over a low flame until it begins to steam. Slowly pour the warm beer into the rum-egg mixture, then pour the drink back and forth between vessels until blended. Decant into a pint glass, shave some nutmeg over the top, and serve. Find similar recipes at http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2014/04/colonial-era-drinks-cocktails-rum-flip-stonefence-syllabub-rattleskull.html.
