{"id":81,"date":"2016-12-11T18:06:02","date_gmt":"2016-12-11T18:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/net4573.net.ucf.edu\/economyofgoods\/?p=81"},"modified":"2017-03-10T21:18:45","modified_gmt":"2017-03-10T21:18:45","slug":"brandy-in-the-1760s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projects.cah.ucf.edu\/economyofgoods\/index.php\/2016\/12\/11\/brandy-in-the-1760s\/","title":{"rendered":"Brandy in the 1760s"},"content":{"rendered":"

Austin Browning \/\/ AMH 4112.001 – The Atlantic World, 1400-1900<\/h4>\n

As many may already know, water wasn\u2019t always clean or fit for human consumption in colonial America which required another source for beverages: alcohol. \u00a0By the 1750s, rum became a large import to the colonies as the primary beverage of choice.[1]<\/sup><\/a> \u00a0We saw this consumption of rum exemplified well in the Ready Money transactions from 1760-1761 at Glassford and Henderson\u2019s Colchester store.<\/p>\n

Brandy was also purchased, but may have been used in a somewhat different manner than rum. Looking at the Ready Money account, it was not purchased until December.[2]<\/sup><\/a> This suggests to me that brandy consumption was saved for the holiday season. Sales extend through March with two additional pints purchased in May. It was possible that brandy was not in supply year round due to it only appearing in the Ready Money accounts primarily from December through March.\u00a0 Additionally, it is worth noting the brandy was likely made locally and not imported.[3]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

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Brandy purchased at the Glassford and Henderson Colchester store from the Ready Money account in December 1760 and January 1761 (folio 11).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Brandy would have been served in specialized bowls that could be passed around the table (or room). Image courtesy of the collections of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Acc. No. 2016-59).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A striking observation was the relatively small amounts of brandy purchased as compared to rum. While rum was often purchased by the gallon, brandy was usually bought in smaller amounts, usually in one or two pints. This purchasing trend shows that massive amounts of brandy were not being consumed in one sitting, and adds credence to my theory that brandy was saved for special occasions and holidays rather than as a daily drink.<\/p>\n

Purchasing brandy would have been done by almost anyone looking to celebrate special occasions, especially in the winter months.\u00a0 I think primarily the sale of brandy in Colchester, Virginia, showed an affinity for decadence and celebration. I imagine the average Virginian grew tired of rum which was consumed in massive amounts throughout the rest of the year.\u00a0 Brandy may have been a good change of pace and provide a good tasting alcoholic beverage for the entire family to enjoy.<\/p>\n

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