Two days before 55 of our founding fathers wrapped up the first Constitutional Convention, they…
adjourned to a tavern for some rest, and according to the bill they drank 54 bottles of Madeira, 60 bottles of claret, 8 of whiskey, 22 of port, 8 of hard cider and 7 bowls of punch so large that, it was said, ducks could swim around in them. Then they went back to work and finished founding the new Republic.
That’s from The Joy of Drinking by Barbara Holland, which sounds like a mighty fine book. Holland has also written of the wonders of naps and bacon, so she’s got the right perspective on these things, as far as I can tell. (And she’s 70. You go, Barbara.)
