Red, white and blue color schemes and ‘freedom’ inspired cocktails are a great representation of Independence Day. While it is important to keep these festive drinks on your cocktail menu for the 4th, have you ever dug into the cocktail history around the time when the Declaration of Independence was signed?
Beer and cider were the steady favorites, but by 1770 there were more than 140 rum distilleries in the country. Rum quickly became king of the colonies so be sure to implement this spirit into your drink menu for some realism this year on the 4th.
Nightclub & Bar spoke with William Fanning, bartender for Hyde Bellagio, editor for Bar & Restaurant Magazine and 2014 Nightclub & Bar Show speaker under the Bar Management and Bartending Track, about creating a specialty cocktail in honor of Colonial America.
“I wanted to create a ‘real’ revolutionary cocktail, made from rum as that was the predominant spirit of the day. It could not be whiskey and it certainly could not have been red, white and blue,” Fanning explained. “I basically wanted to make something good that could have been made back then. That being said, it is for a selective audience, pretty much for people that drink rum neat. Just a small disclaimer.”
The Prevolution
Created by William Fanning
a 2 oz. a Aged Rum
.5 oz. - Blackberry Puree (or 1-3 muddled blackberries, depending on size and preference)
.5 oz. - Lime Juice
.75 oz. – Honey
.75 oz. – Water
.25 oz. - Egg White (optional)
Pulverize the fruit. Long dry shake. Strain neat (ice wasn't common in cocktails until the 1870s). The cup is whatever you want, preferably wooden.
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