Elections in the 18^th Century were festive.  Food and drink were provided to voters to encourage both turn-out (often 85 percent of the eligible voters[1] participated).  Songs were sung and GALLONS of rum punch were consumed.  Prior to Prohibition, handing out drinks in order to woe voters was common.  When Washington entered politics for the first time in 1757, it was accepted tradition to offer boozy refreshment to entice voters. Washington found this sort of electioneering distasteful and ran instead on his own merits.  He lost by over 7 percent of the votes.  It was the only election he would ever lose. When Washington stood again the following year, he took no chances. Washington’s agents doled out 28 gallons of rum, 50 gallons of rum punch, 46 gallons of beer, 34 gallons of wine and, just for good measure, two gallons of hard cider.

This political partying was not limited to elections.  In September 1787, as the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia was wrapping up, Washington hosted a small get together for several of the Founding Fathers, the Light Horse (calvary) of Philadelphia, and 54 other guests.  They consumed 54 bottles of Madeira, 60 bottles of Claret, 8 bottles of whiskey, 8 bottles of cider, 12 bottles of beer and seven “large bowls” of punch.  That would be about two bottles of wine, several shots and a few cups of punch and beer for every guest.  Washington was UNANIMOUSLY elected as our first President.

Washington continued to rely upon a good party to ensure support continued through his as President.  The Washingtons were REKNOWN for their parties and Martha Washington was well-known for her love of entertaining.  One of her signature cocktails was a delicious rum punch which comes from her mother’s recipe.  This punch was a favorite among Martha’s guests, who commented on its delicious flavor and refreshing taste. It was made with a mixture of rum, sugar, lemon juice, and nutmeg, and always served in an elegant punch bowl. Martha would serve her rum punch at dinner parties, balls, and other social events at the Presidential Residences in New York and Philadelphia and later at Mount Vernon.

Martha Stewart may be today’s doyenne of domesticity, but our country’s first First Lady, Martha Washington, was an esteemed entertainer of her Mount Vernon home. The Distilled Spirits Council and master mixologist, Dale DeGraff, have created a recipe inspired by what Martha Washington may have served.

RECIPE:

• 1/5 gal White Rum
• 1/5 gal Dark Rum
• 1/5 gal Orange Curacao
• 1 pint simple syrup
• 1 pint lemon juice
• 1 pint fresh orange juice
• 12 lemons quartered
• 4 orange quartered
• 2 Tsp grated nutmeg
• 12 cinnamon sticks (broken)
• 24 cloves
• 1 gal boiling water

In a container, mash the orange, lemons, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and nutmeg. Add the syrup, lemon, and orange juices. Pour the boiling water over the mixture in the container. Let cool for a few minutes to allow the spices to open. When cool, add the white rum, dark rum, and orange curacao. Strain well into your punch bowl (to remove all of the spice marinade).  Serve over ice in goblets and decorate with wheels of lemon and orange.

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[1] Only land owning (freeholders), free white men, in good standing with the Anglican Church were permitted to vote.  Women, slaves, African and indentured slaves, non-Christians, and the poor were not eligible to vote.

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