It's time to raise a glass to history.
The Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks, also known as PhilaLandmarks, recently launched Spirits of Independence — a lecture and tasting series that explores the brews, wines, and spirits that shaped Philadelphia.
Each event in the series will see a selection of experts — including historical booze enthusiast and author Steven Grasse; scholar and author Jordan Smith; and Rare Wine Company’s Mannie Berk and Aaron Nix-Gomez — discuss history while guests sip on complimentary beverages made using colonial-minded recipes.
“Deeply entwined in the history of Philadelphia, and our country, are the drinks that early civilians produced, imported, exported, and consumed,” says Kayla Anthony, Executive Director of PhilaLandmarks. “We’re grateful to work with beverage partners who bring that experience to life — as accurately as possible — for our guests to enjoy.”
The series launched on Sept. 18 at Grumblethorpe, a 1744 home and estate built by wine merchant John Wister, who imported wine from Germany. Wister, the landlord of Benjamin Franklin, also made fruit wines here in Pennsylvania. Scholar David Hancock, who is an expert on the wine trade of the colonies, gave a talk on Wister and his place in the wine trade in colonial America while guests tasted relevant wines.
Upcoming talks will take place on Oct. 16, Nov. 20, and Dec. 13. Here's what you can expect.
Henry Hill, who built the Hill-Physick House, was a patriot and a Madeira importer. The vast majority of wine imported into the colonies during the revolutionary period was Madeira, and was being drunk in homes and taverns across the colonies.
Mannie Berk of the Rare Wine Company and Madeira historian, Aaron Nix-Gomez, have collaborated for close to 15 years in unraveling the history of Madeira from early days until now.
During the Oct. 16 event, they will focus on how Madeira was purchased and consumed in America in the 18th and 19th centuries to understand how it came to be the most coveted wine in this country. Madeira wine tasting is included.
Hill-Physick House, 321 S. 4th St.
Porter was the brew of choice for many in the colonial era, and the Powel family was connected to the most renowned brewer of porter at the time, Robert Hare.
During this event, Steve Grasse, the author of 'Colonial Spirits: A Toast to Our Drunken History,' will give a talk about the importance of porter in the colonial era and the experience of brewing porter from a colonial recipe. Guests will taste and take home a serving of a colonial-style porter made by My Local Brew Works in the style of the famed recipe created by Hare.
Powel House, 244 S. 3rd St. #1811
General Anthony Wayne traded animal hides for rum to keep the troops of the Continental Army supplied.
In his historic home, scholar Jordan Smith, author of 'The Invention of Rum,' a definitive history of the topic in the colonial period, will discuss the importance of the rum trade in the colonial era. A tasting of a historic rum punch recipe is included.
Historic Waynesborough, 2049 Waynesborough Road, Paoli
All events will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at philalandmarks.org. Guests must be 21+ to attend.
For more information about the Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks, visit PhilaLandmarks.org.
MORE: Drink with the dead: Brew N’ History returns to Christ Church Burial Ground
