Often times my research spurns interesting topics that deal with everyday life during the Civil War. While trying to figure out what exactly people would drink during the holidays during the war I stumbled upon a great resource called "
The Cook's Guide, and Housekeepers & Butler's Assistant" from 1683 and found some fun and unique period cocktails.
As it's the holidays I thought it would be festive to share favorite holiday libations of the past and the present. These two are period cocktails.
Cheers!
Brandy Smash
Put three slices of lemon in a tumbler with a few slices of pineapple, add a dessert-spoonful of sifted sugar; fill up with shaved Wenham Lake ice, or with any other clean ice; add a wineglass of brandy; mix and drink devoutly.
Sleeper
To a gill of old rum add one once of sugar, two yolks of eggs and the juice of half a lemon; boil half a pint of water with six cloves, six coriander seeds, and a bit of cinnamon, whisk together, and strain them into a tumbler.