# John Adams mini series: what were they drinking? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 21, 2008, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-adams-mini-series-what-were-they-drinking/446181 "2008-04-21T02:24:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-adams-mini-series-what-were-they-drinking/446181/1 "2008-04-21T02:24:14Z")
I put this in GQ because I think there may be a factual answer to this. Just finished watching the last installment of the brilliant John Adams mini-series on HBO. I noticed that in every episode they were drinking something from what appears to be a type of [cordial](http://images.replacements.com/images/images5/crystal/R/rosenthal_classic_modern_cordial_glass_P0000079549S0006T2.jpg) glass. It was always the same, a brownish-red liquid. Too much red in it to be whisky, too much brown to be wine. Any idea what other type of liquor may have been popular at that time of history? ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-adams-mini-series-what-were-they-drinking/446181/2 "2008-04-21T02:30:54Z")
Brandy, I assumed. It was far from unknown in colonialdays. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-adams-mini-series-what-were-they-drinking/446181/3 "2008-04-21T03:08:13Z")
I presumed it was either sherry or port, both of which were common drinks of the period. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-adams-mini-series-what-were-they-drinking/446181/4 "2008-04-21T03:23:04Z")
Actually I would assume (not having seen the series) that it would be [porter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porter_(beer)), a sweetish dark beer very popular at the time. [QUOTE=wikipedia] Before 1700, London brewers sent out their beer very young and any aging was either performed by the publican or a dealer. Porter was the first beer to be aged at the brewery and despatched in a condition fit to be drunk immediately. It was the first beer that could be made on any large scale, and the London porter brewers, such as Whitbread, Truman, Parsons and Thrale, achieved great success financially. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-adams-mini-series-what-were-they-drinking/446181/5 "2008-04-21T08:09:51Z")
[QUOTE=Askance] Actually I would assume (not having seen the series) that it would be [porter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porter_(beer)), a sweetish dark beer very popular at the time. [/QUOTE] In a cordial glass? What kind of mean bugger would serve beer in a cordial glass? šŸ˜ƒ I havenā€™t seen this, but from the description I think I would also assume sherry or port ā€“ or possibly madeira. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-adams-mini-series-what-were-they-drinking/446181/6 "2008-04-21T09:05:28Z")
Definitely not beer because it would have been entirely out of context in the scene. Real Americans would not have serve beer in that manner and setting. I also doubt that it was brandy, since the wives and daughters were joining in on the toast. Brandy (and cigars) is more perceived as a man thing. I would think that sherry would be drank from a smaller glass. Iā€™d say port wine would be appropriate and proper for the situation and the glass used. Perhaps the off color was used to suggest a homemade wine, which would also be proper for the setting. BTW, the series was excellent and really helped to highlight one of our founding mothers. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-adams-mini-series-what-were-they-drinking/446181/7 "2008-04-21T09:47:35Z")
[QUOTE=pkbites] It was always the same, a brownish-red liquid. Too much red in it to be whisky, too much brown to be wine. Any idea what other type of liquor may have been popular at that time of history? [/QUOTE] Iā€™ve not seen the show, but it sounds like they were drinking [Madeira](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeira_wine#Early_American_history). > [@](#): > > John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, of the great quantities of Madeira he consumed while a Massachusetts delegate to the Continental Congress. ---
**Author:** ![MarcusF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/67e7ee/32.png) [@MarcusF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarcusF)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-adams-mini-series-what-were-they-drinking/446181/8 "2008-04-21T09:51:44Z")
Supporting \*\*Tapioca Dextrin \*\* I would also suggest Madeira - similar to Port but from Madeira (Doh!). Apparently it was a favourite in 18th century America. From this [site](http://www.foodreference.com/html/artmadeira.html): > [@](#): > > In 1663, by decree of Charles II, European products could no longer be sent to the American and West Indian colonies unless they were carried on English ships sailing out of English ports. The Americans decided that Madeira, lying off the African coast, did not fall under this new legislation, and began to import its wines. > [@](#): > > Madeira was a well established wine on the east coast of America, and by the end of the 18th century North American colonies were importing 25 percent of the total production. In fact, the wine was held in such great esteem that it was used to toast the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Colonial troops returning to Britain opened up a new market there, but Madeira today is still much appreciated on the eastern coast of the U S A and the U K. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-adams-mini-series-what-were-they-drinking/446181/9 "2008-04-21T09:59:58Z")
[Here we go](http://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/aea/cfm/doc.cfm?id=D22) > [@](#): > > About four O Clock We were called down to Dinner. The Furniture was all rich. ā€“ Turttle, and every other Thing ā€“ Flummery, Jellies, Sweetmeats of 20 sorts, Trifles, Whipā€™d Syllabubbs, floating Islands, fools ā€“ &c., and then a Desert of Fruits, Raisins, Almonds, Pears, Peaches ā€“ Wines most excellent and admirable. I drank Madeira at a great Rate and found no Inconvenience in it. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-adams-mini-series-what-were-they-drinking/446181/10 "2008-04-21T12:34:44Z")
> [@](#): > > It was always the same, a brownish-red liquid. Too much red in it to be whisky, too much brown to be wine. Youā€™ve obviously never had my fatherā€™s home-made wine. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-adams-mini-series-what-were-they-drinking/446181/11 "2008-04-21T13:30:39Z")
Have some Madeira, mā€™Dear! Itā€™s so very much nicer than beer. I donā€™t care for sherry and cannot drink stout And port is a wine I can well do without. Itā€™s simply a case of ā€œchacun a son gout.ā€ Have some Madeira, mā€™Dear!" ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-adams-mini-series-what-were-they-drinking/446181/12 "2008-04-21T14:26:18Z")
[QUOTE=Si Amigo] Definitely not beer because it would have been entirely out of context in the scene. Real Americans would not have serve beer in that manner and setting. I also doubt that it was brandy, since the wives and daughters were joining in on the toast. [/QUOTE] Children in colonial times consumed alcohol at levels that would kill a child today. It was in nearly every ā€œmedicineā€, and in many places kids would drink hard cider and weak beer daily, since they were generally germ free. That wasnā€™t something you could say about the water most places. Would you rather die of liver failure at sixty or cholera at age five? ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-adams-mini-series-what-were-they-drinking/446181/13 "2008-04-21T15:04:35Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Moto] Children in colonial times consumed alcohol at levels that would kill a child today. It was in nearly every ā€œmedicineā€, and in many places kids would drink hard cider and weak beer daily, since they were generally germ free. That wasnā€™t something you could say about the water most places. Would you rather die of liver failure at sixty or cholera at age five? [/QUOTE] Yes, but a proper upscale New England family would not toast the occasion of having there son voted POTUS with beer is all I am saying. Given the social setting that was shown (and the type of glass used) it was most highly likely that the drink was wine of some sort. The Adams where quite aware of social ediqutte and knew what glass to use with which drink. He was after all, ambassator to the court of Louis XVI. And John Adams lived into his ninties, smoking and drinking right up to the end. My hero. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-adams-mini-series-what-were-they-drinking/446181/14 "2008-04-21T15:14:47Z")
Washington was very fond of madeira. Mount Vernon records show that his household imported and quaffed quite a bit of it. He also established a distillery at Mount Vernon that made a handsome profit producing whiskey.