The Boston Tea Party
For my Independence Day cocktail I’d like to take us back a few years earlier to December 16, 1773. The resistance to the Tea Act had been growing and culminated this day with protestors dumping chests of East India Company tea into the Boston Harbor. It quickly became known as the ‘Boston Tea Party’, and was one of the first major events on our road to the American Revolution and our Independence.
Rum was the spirit of choice in the colonies. By 1770 they were importing 6.5 million gallons of West Indian molasses, and turning it into over five million gallons of rum a year. According this National Geographic article they counted over 150 distilleries in New England alone. I infused a local American made rum with Earl Grey tea to create the base of the cocktail.
Roses, both wild and brought from Europe, were held in high regard by the colonists. The colonists had brought cuttings and plants with them and painstakingly cultivated them along side the native varieties. There are notations from historical texts indicating rose bushes were sometimes used in lieu of money for purchases. So this cocktail features a rosebud infused simple syrup.
Immigrants have always had a tumultuous story in American whether it was the colonists with the native Americans or later the Irish or Chinese or more recently immigrants coming from war torn countries like Somalia and our southern neighbor. Even so, the diversity that comes from the great melting pot is one of our strengths. So I included the Don Ciccio & Figli Cinque Amaro made completely in America by Francesco Amodeo, an Italian immigrant. Whose family has been making liqueurs for over 100 years.
Finally I included Calvados. While this is not an American made spirit, it is symbolic. The first apple orchard in America was planted in Boston in 1625. Many of you also know that I grew up in an apple orchard so it bears special meaning to me.
Cheers to the American Independence Day and to all of the world’s people understanding our collective past to inform the choices of our collective future.
The Boston Tea Party
- 1.5 oz Earl Grey infused Grand Canyon Rum
- 1 oz DC&F Cinque
- .5 oz Rose infused simple syrup
- .5 oz Calvados Morin
- Mixed over ice served in a teacup…of course!
Stir over ice until well chilled. Serve in your favorite teacup, garnished with rosebuds.
