BEVERAGES

HOT TODDY (Of any type)

Recipe from reading Charles Dickens, which is definitely pre-1840. There's not much to it, but it's good and it's authentic. Of course, I had to do a lot of research to get it right...

In a tumbler or coffee mug, put:

I've made this with rum, whiskey, brandy and gin. They are all good. When I use gin, I like to add one eighth of a lime. This is very typical of how 18th and 19th century people consumed distilled spirits. I find it very nice on a cold day, after ice fishing, deer hunting, & etc.

CRICK WATER

APPLE PIE

1 gallon apple cider
1/2 gallon apple juice
3 Cups sugar
8 big cinnamon sticks
1 bottle* of Everclear (190 proof grain alcohol)

*If you want it strong, you can put in a liter of Everclear. If it will be used for a Christmas or party drink just use a 750 ml size bottle.

Directions: Put the apple cider and the sugar in one pan and the apple juice and the cinnamon sticks in another pan. Bring them both to a simmer. Stir them both enough to disolve the sugar in the cider and to mix the cinnamon. Remove the cinnamon sticks after about 5 minutes or until the taste is all out of them and they "taste like wood sticks". Cool. Then mix together and "drink 'til you drop!"

Apple Pie Punch

1 750 ml bottle of a good 151 proof Rum (preferably, Bacardi brand)
1/4 cup Brach's Cinnamon Imperials Candy. (It is imperative to use Brach's Imperials brand as there are waxes in other cinnamon candy that will collect in your jug and make a nasty mess)
1 Gallon Apple Cider
1 teaspoon Whole Cloves
1 teaspoon Whole Allspice
6 Whole Cinnamon Sticks
Pour off 750 ml of the apple cider into another container, so as to have enough room to put in the rum. Then into a sauce pan put about 2 cups of the cider from the cider jug, and all of the spices. Bring this mixture to near boiling, then let it sit until it is cool. Now pour the sauce pan of cider and all of the whole spices back into the cider jug. Now pour the Rum into the cider jug. The most important part of making this Wonderful Jug Elixir is that it must rest for at least a month, longer is better. Pour off into several smaller jugs. (This is for preservation sake. This way if you fall down and break your jug at the party, you won't loose all your good Apple Pie) Note: The addition of 1 Cup of white sugar to the mixture makes the Apple Pie taste a whole lot better. You might want to try that too.

Shrub (An authentic beverage of the Fur Trade Era)

1 quart acid citrus juice (orange, lemon, grapefruit, etc.)
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups water
1 quart dark Spanish rum Mix thoroughly in a large tin kettle. Be sure to leave in the fruit rinds. Pass the kettle around to anyone within reach touting the true authenticity for the Fur Trade.
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