Could you ever imagine spending $15,000 at the bar — in a single night? Probably not, but George Washington certainly could!
Rumors about the George Washington bar tab began circulating on Facebook in 2022. If you’re one of those who saw the post, you’re probably wondering whether it’s a myth or true. After all, one of our storied Founding Fathers surely wouldn’t engage in a night of drunken debauchery, would he?
Well, the “drunken” part may not be accurate, but the bit about his expensive bar tab is 100% true, as verified by historians. Learn all the details below, plus some interesting tidbits about other Founding Fathers’ love affair with booze.
Alcohol: Healthier Than Water? In 1757, Yes
In Washington’s time, it was no secret that the man had a special fondness for alcohol. Part of that fondness had to do with the poor water quality back in the day. Clean drinking water was often difficult to come by, and much of the supply was contaminated with bacteria known to cause unpleasant symptoms like diarrhea, intestinal pain, and death.
When Washington was serving as a colonel in the French and Indian War at a tender 25 years of age, he jotted down a famous recipe for “small beer” in his notebook. The recipe involved boiling bran hops for three hours, draining three gallons of molasses into a cooler, and adding a quart of yeast to get the brewing process going. Washington smartly advised brewers to cover the pot with a blanket to keep the mixture from getting chilled and bottle the beer the week it was brewed.
This recipe for small beer was a popular one, as was the beverage itself. It wasn’t uncommon to see soldiers sipping small beer as they patrolled city streets. Even young children imbibed small beer in lieu of clean water.
Washington’s Expensive Night Out
In September 1787, when Washington was 55 years old, he held an important role as the president of the Constitutional Convention. It was at this meeting that the Founding Fathers framed the Constitution we all know and love today.
Washington was worn out and stressed to the bone after such a demanding task (wouldn’t you be?). To celebrate the big day and take a load off, he moseyed down to the City Tavern, situated just a few blocks from Philly’s famous Independence Hall. City Tavern was the place to be for the Founding Fathers, so Washington knew it would serve him well as the site of his soon-to-be infamous gala.
At City Tavern, Washington hooked up with the Light Horse of Philadelphia, a volunteer corps he’d crossed the Delaware River with, and into the bar they went. You may not recognize the name “Light Horse of Philadelphia,” but you’ve probably seen the famous Revolutionary War painting featuring the crew in at least one of your history books.
What exactly went down at City Tavern that night is anyone’s guess. However, we can surmise the revelry by taking a peek at George Washington’s bar tab, which Pepperdine University professor Gordon Llyod discovered while sifting through documents from Independence Hall.
The George Washington bar tab included:
- 60 bottles of claret (a red wine from Bordeaux)
- 54 bottles of Madeira wine
- 12 bottles of ale
- 22 bottles of porter (a very bitter type of beer)
- Eight bottles of Old Stock (a type of colonial whiskey)
- Eight bottles of boozy cider
- Seven tubs of alcoholic punch
All told, the bill added up to more than 87 pounds, or a whopping $15,400 in today’s dollars. Some historians estimate the cost to be even higher at around $17,000.
The bill didn’t just cover alcohol for Washington and his friends. It also included fees for broken glasses, cigars, candles, and dinner for 55 guests.
This may sound like one heck of a party, but history experts doubt Washington had all that much fun. He was exhausted and likely upset that he couldn’t be with his wife. On top of that, he wasn’t a fan of over-indulgence. Had anyone gotten too rowdy, he almost certainly would have put them in their place.
The Boozy Habits of Other Founding Fathers
The George Washington bar tab gives us a sneak peek at what this historical icon was really like, but he wasn’t the only Founding Father with a fondness for alcohol.
Sam Adams
Sam Adams infamously loved boozing it up so much that he had a brand of beer named after him (maybe you’re one of its many fans). During his senior year at Harvard, he was caught indulging in rum and fined five shillings. He also spent so many evenings imbibing at alehouses that his detractors called him “Sam the Publican,” a moniker he was quite proud of.
Good old Sam Adams was also known for throwing alcohol-fueled parties for his pals. One of the most famous was the 1768 Stamp Act Riots bash, during which he gave at least 45 toasts to commemorate the planting of the Liberty Tree.
John Adams
Not to be confused with our friend Sam Adams, John Adams had quite a taste of his own for alcohol. In college, John famously began his mornings with a small glass of cider, and according to the tales, he partied for six hours every night for seven weeks, running with younger members of the Continental Congress (not willing to be outdone by fledglings, perhaps).
Historical accounts also tell the tale of John’s attempt to use diplomatic immunity to purchase 500 bottles of Bordeaux without coughing up money for taxes. When that failed, he had his buddy Thomas Jefferson pay for him.
Ethan Allen
Ethan Allen, perhaps best known for leading the Green Mountain Boys militia to victory at Fort Ticonderoga, was a fierce proponent of all things alcohol. He often imbibed in Stone Walls (a heady mixture of cider and rum) to the point where his pals would have to load him onto a hay cart to make the trip home.
Allen was so well known for his drunken exploits that he developed an almost myth-like status. As one story goes, he fell asleep after a day of drinking and was bitten by a rattlesnake. So drunk was he that the snake itself became intoxicated, and when Allen awoke, he noticed the wound and complained about “mosquitoes.”
Luther Martin
The Declaration of Independence may have been a hit among many, but Luther Martin was not one of them. The Maryland lawyer refused to sign because, according to him, the document didn’t sufficiently represent states’ rights.
In addition to his stubbornness, Martin was known for his drinking habits. One day, when he was to represent a Quaker in court, he vowed not to drink a drop of alcohol — but he didn’t say anything about not eating it.
To dodge his vow, he poured 90-proof liquor over a slice of bread, devoured the boozy snack, and then, shockingly, managed to win the case.
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