American History in 7 Bottles: A Tasting Class in Philadelphia. December 2024
Imagine tracing the arc of American history not through textbooks, but through the clink of glasses and the stories bottled up inside them. "American History in 7 Bottles" isn’t just a class—it’s a sensory expedition, a way to taste the past and understand how a nation’s character can be distilled into its drinks.
We begin with the humble colonial cider, a beverage that wasn’t just a drink but a testament to the early settlers’ resourcefulness. Cider was more than a refreshment; it was a symbol of survival and self-reliance in a new world. From there, the journey darkens as we follow the path of rum, a drink steeped in the shadows of the Triangle Trade. Rum wasn’t just a commodity—it was the currency of a morally fraught economy, an emblem of both wealth and the deep ethical compromises that built it.
As America pushes westward, whiskey takes the stage, embodying the rugged individualism of the frontier. But whiskey was also a flashpoint, a liquid rebellion that tested the boundaries between federal power and local autonomy during the Whiskey Rebellion. Each sip of whiskey is a reminder of the tensions that brewed between different visions of what America should be.
The story doesn’t stop there. Enter lager beer in the late 19th century—a drink that poured itself into the fabric of urban America. Lager wasn’t just a working man’s drink; it was a symbol of industrialization, immigration, and the melting pot of cultures that defined the growing cities. Beer halls became the social hubs where the dreams and frustrations of the working class fermented.
As we move into the 20th century, the narrative shifts with the onset of Prohibition, a time when gin—often hastily and illicitly made—became the drink of choice. But this wasn’t just any gin; it was bootlegged, a drink that flowed in hidden speakeasies, where jazz filled the air and the nation’s rebellious spirit was as strong as the alcohol in the glass.
Finally, we end our journey with California Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine isn’t just a beverage; it’s the culmination of America’s rise in the global wine industry, a sign that America had come of age. Cabernet tells the story of innovation and diversity, the hallmarks of modern America, and how this nation carved out its own space on the global stage.
Each bottle in this course is a time capsule, offering more than just a taste of alcohol—it’s a taste of the social, economic, and cultural forces that have shaped the United States. "American History in 7 Bottles" is a narrative of how what we drink can tell us who we are, revealing the deep, often surprising connections between our culture and our consumption.
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/2585136-0
Booking: https://go.evvnt.com/2585136-2
