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Slideshow
Top drinks-related facts about Fourth of July
To mark the United States’ 241st year of Independence on Tuesday, we have sifted through its history to bring you a selection of little-known facts, shining a light on how alcohol has helped shape and celebrate the formation of this great nation.
This Tuesday, Americans at home and around the world will raise a glass to their founding fathers, marking the Declaration of Independence signed in 1776.
The United States has come a long way since then, and changed a great deal, but alcohol, in one form or another, has been a constant. While at times turbulent, notably during Prohibition (although even through this time its passion for brewing, distilling and fermenting was kept alive by bootleggers), America’s relationship with beer, wines and spirits has remained, helping its citizens to commiserate and celebrate its trials and triumphs.
Here, we round up some of the little-known facts about the Fourth of July relating to the drinks industry, from the wine used to toast the signing of the Declaration of Independence, to the founding father’s favourite tipples.
1. Madeira
The Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia on the 4th July in 1776, and saw 13 American colonies become independent sovereign states free from British rule. The United States of America was born.
It was a momentous moment in the country’s history, however what many might not know is that the historic moment was celebrated by the founding fathers with a glass of Madeira.
Madeira, a fortified wine made on the volcanic island of Madeira on the west coast of Africa, was a popular beverage in the US, which accounted for the majority of the country’s sales. Because the wine was fortified, it travelled well, making its export to the US viable.
2. Drinking songs
The lawyer and amateur poet’s version was first known as “Defence of Fort M’Henry”, written in 1814, supposedly after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by British ships of the Royal Navy in Baltimore Harbour during the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812.
Key is said to have been inspired by the American flag that had been flying above the fort during the American victory. However there is a legend, equal parts speculation and conspiracy, that suggests that the melody was taken from an English drinking song called “To Anacreon in Heaven”, which was the official song of the Anacreontic Society – a gentlemen’s club dedicated to the ancient Greek poet Anacreon, who was renowned for his drinking songs and odes to love – which would mean that the Star Spangled Banner actually has alcohol to thank for its creation.
It was a Baltimore music store that first printed the patriotic song with sheet music under the title of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
3. Wine’s virgin territory
While California is now the biggest and most recognised wine region in the United States, the country’s wine origins were in fact founded in Virginia, more than a century before the Declaration of Independence.
In 1691, the first legislation on wine and vineyard growth was set down by the first legislative assembly of the New World – the House of Burgesses – which passed Act 12. This legislation required that every male household in Virginia plant 10 vines of imported vitis vinifera grapes for the purpose of growing and making wine.
Virginia, therefore, lays rightful claim to being the birthplace of US winemaking, at least in a legislative sense, and one of the first to recognise the importance of importing European vines into the country to improve its offer.
Coincidentally, Virginia is also the home of current US president Donald Trump’s winery,
4. $$$
While the Fourth of July is a public holiday first, it is also a prime time for commercial gain, with corporations standing to make billions from the boost in spending by American citizens during this time.
According to Nielsen, Americans on average spend $1.72 billion on beer or cider and $568.3 million on wine, soaked up by $25 million spent on bratwurst and $133 million on hamburger and hotdog buns.
5. We’re number one
6. Rum
7. Washington
America’s first president, George Washington, was known to drink beer and had a particular fondness for a brew produced in Philadelphia called “Porter beer”.
This is, according to a book published in 2014 exploring the role of alcohol in US politics – Mint Juleps with Teddy Roosevelt: The Complete History of Presidential Drinking, written by Mark Will-Weber. He is believed to have spent $6,000 on alcohol in a period of seven months between 1775 and 1776, with most of his cash going on Madeira wine.
George Washington was an accomplished brewmaster, maintaining a private brewery at his home in Mount Vernon.
8. Adams
An American lawyer, author, statesman, and diplomat, Adams was the second President of the United States and a leader of American independence from Great Britain.
A known heavy drinker, Adams is reported to have started drinking at the age of 15 when he started his education at Harvard, and was known to drink beer at breakfast. Incidentally, his cousin was Samuel Adams, who inspired the Boston Brewing Company’s now ubiquitous beer brand Samuel Adams.
During his time in Philadelphia in 1774 to participate in the First Continental Congress, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail, “I drink no Cyder [sic], but feast upon Phyladelphia [sic] Beer, and Porter.”
John Adams started smoking at the age of 8 – a habit he continued into old age – but died at the grand old age of 90.
9. Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States and a founding father, was a passionate oenophile and is often referred to as America’s first wine connoisseur, however, he is said to have composed the first draft of the Declaration of Independence over a cold draft at the Indian Queen tavern in Philadelphia.
It’s likely that much of his education on wine came during his time studying law while living with statesman and lawyer, George Wythe, who was known to be a fan of fine European wines. After leaving his residence with Wythe, Jefferson started his first cellar at his family home.
Prior to his presidency, Jefferson acted as wine advisor and buyer to George Washington stocking the president’s cellars with Champagne and Bordeaux. During his two terms as President Jefferson is reported to have spent $16,500 on wine entertaining dignitaries.
I think you might want to re-research #2. The legend is not that the words to The Star-Spangled Banner were originally written as a drinking song, It’s pretty well documented that Key was writing about the flag at Ft McHenry (and the idea that “the flag was still there” somehow has to do with wine is a bit silly, even for a drunkard).
The unconfirmed legend is that the tune to which The SSB is set was originally a drinking song, specifically an English song called “To Anacreon in Heaven.” You folks are based in the UK and write about wine and spirits. Have you heard of it?
Hi Byron,
Thanks very much for the added info. I have updated the slide accordingly.
Many thanks,
Lauren