Rum!? Who knew?! This courtesy of Gemini AI. And video at the bottom.
During the American Revolution, colonists drank about three times as much alcohol as Americans do today. Because clean water was scarce and unsafe, alcoholic beverages were staple dietary choices for everyone, including soldiers, who received daily rations of spirits. [1, 2]
The primary alcoholic drinks included:
- Rum: This was the most universal drink and a massive trade commodity. New England colonists distilled molasses imported from the Caribbean, and it was famously issued as a daily ration to Continental Army soldiers to boost morale and combat the cold. [1, 2, 3]
- Hard Cider: Abundant in North America, cider was consumed daily across all social classes. Troops and militia members often drank a hearty mixture of rum and hard cider known as a “Stone Fence”. [1, 2]
- Beer: A daily staple, ranging from imported British porters to domestically brewed “small beer” (which had a very low alcohol content). Beer was highly political; patriots like Samuel Adams and George Washington championed domestic brewing over imported English goods. Washington even issued spruce beer rations to his troops for nutritional value. [1, 2]
- Madeira Wine: A fortified wine produced on the Portuguese island of Madeira, it was incredibly popular among the wealthy elite and Founding Fathers. It was so prized that delegates famously celebrated the signing of the Constitution with dozens of bottles of Madeira. [1]
- Whiskey: While it eventually gained popularity, it was less prominent than rum in the early days of the revolution. However, leaders like George Washington eventually began producing large quantities of whiskey at their own estates. [1, 2, 3]
- Punches and Flips: Colonists frequently mixed spirits, spices, and juices to create “Punches,” or combined beer, sugar, and rum heated with a red-hot iron loggerhead to make a frothy “Flip”. [1]
But there’s more – the #1 “cocktail” – the Stone Fence. So named back in the day because if you had one, you feel like you’ve run into a stone fence…!
Here’s an authentic, historically accurate rum recipe from the American Revolution era. … a simple campfire soldier’s drink…
1. The Stone Fence
The Stone Fence is a legendary American cocktail that was incredibly popular among the Continental Army soldiers and the famous “Green Mountain Boys” militia. It is sweet, tart, and deeply warming. The name allegedly comes from the drink’s ability to make you feel like you just ran head-first into a stone fence.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Dark or Gold Rum (Historically, this would be New England style rum)
- 6 oz. Hard Apple Cider (Use a dry, traditional cider if possible)
- Garnish: A pinch of freshly grated nutmeg or a cinnamon stick
The contemporary version – since there wasn’t much ice around in 1776.
- Fill a tall pint glass or mug with ice.
- Pour in the rum.
- Top with the hard apple cider and stir gently.
- Garnish with a dusting of nutmeg on top.
Also most of today’s recipes that I’ve found substitute bourbon or rye whiskey for rum as shown here. But not sure that’s an upgrade. Here is a quick discussion, and he does use rum.