Independence Day.

Fourth of July.

A federal holiday that celebrates (or commemorates) the United States Declaration of Independence from Britain and the rule of King George III.

From July 4^th, 1776, the U.S. has celebrated this day by throwing parades, parties, BBQs, fireworks displays, concerts, fairs, speeches, family get-togethers, and generally taking time to acknowledge this important date.

From entertaining films involving aliens, like Independence Day, to somber films, like Born on the Fourth of July, the historical impact of this day threads through U.S. culture in many ways.

So, where does whiskey fit in this timeline? Well, the Whiskey Rebellion happened approximately 20 years after the declaration was signed, you can read our blog about that here; barrelglobal; and George Washington, Founding Father and first President of the United States was, amongst many other titles, a distiller of whiskey.

His distillery at Mount Vernon in 1799 produced 11,000 gallons a year, whereas most distilleries produced 650 gallons a year. So, of course, he wasn't pleased about the idea of taxes imposed by Alexander Hamilton!

Also, around this period, in the late 1700s, the Scots-Irish, a large group of immigrants from Northern Ireland, started to make the U.S. their home. With strong bodies and characters, combined with a knowledge of distilling, these people helped create a new nation and, in doing that, started laying the building blocks, literally and figuratively for the U.S. whiskey industry.

Today, Independence Day is celebrated both nationally and globally, with people coming together over food, drink, and fireworks (yes, a very cliched image but generally true).

So, how can we use whiskey and bourbon in our Independence Day celebrations?

Firstly, if you are the one doing the entertaining, we want to make it easy for you to spend more time with guests and less time in the kitchen/home bar. So, we have selected a couple of simple, less time-consuming ideas for you.

Let’s start with food, and by food, we mean BBQs!

This is a simple and quick BBQ meat glaze that can bepre-prepped and kept in the fridge, ready to apply to your ribs and drumsticks.

Ingredients:

100ml ketchup

½ tsp garlic salt

1 tbsp molasses or black treacle

3 tbsp American yellow mustard

6 tbsp soft brown sugar

3 tbsp cider vinegar

1 tsp hot or sweet smoked paprika (pimentó)

2 tbsp bourbon whiskey*

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Method:

Pour all the ingredients into a saucepan and heat until the sugar has melted, then bubble for a few minutes, stirring constantly, until the raw alcohol smell from the bourbon has gone. Cool, then cover and store in the fridge until required. It will keep for 3-4weeks.

Credit for recipe to : Quick bourbon barbecue glaze recipe |delicious. magazine (deliciousmagazine.co.uk)

*While the recipe mentions bourbon whiskey, we would, of course, encourage you to experiment with different whiskey profiles, from using a rye forward whiskey for some spiciness or a wheated dram for some sweetness and especially a splash of peated whiskey to highlight those smoky BBQ flavors.

To go with food, we highly recommend some whiskey-based drinks; from neat with a splash or large ice cube to refreshing highballs and fun cocktails, there is something for every palate.

A very quick and refreshing whiskey cocktail is the Mint Julep, which is a classic Bourbon& Mint cocktail, famous for being served at the Kentucky Derby.

Equipment

1 Jigger

1 Bar spoon

Ingredients

2 oz Bourbon Whiskey

8 Mint leaves

1 tsp Powdered sugar

2 tsp Water

1 Mint Sprig

Instructions

Add mint, sugar, and water into a Julep cup and gently muddle the mint. -Remember, only enough to release the oils and aroma.

(8 Mint leaves,1 tsp Powdered sugar,2 tsp Water)

Add the Bourbon, fill the Julep cup with crushed ice, and stir until the cup is frosted on the outside.

(2 oz Bourbon Whiskey)

Top with more crushed ice, and don't forget to slap the mint sprig before garnishing your Mint Julep with it.

(1 Mint Sprig)

Credit to the Cocktail Society website for the recipe, and if you click on the link, a lovely article on the history of the Mint Julep. Mint Julep Cocktail | Cocktail Society(cocktail-society.com)

Another quick and very versatile cocktail is the highball. It's a long, ice-filled, refreshing whiskey-based drink that you can add anything to.

Equipment:

Long tall glass

Long bar spoon

Ice (whatever you have, crushed, cubes)

Whiskey (again, whatever you have to hand)

Mixers (ginger ale, soda, lemonade, coke, cherry coke, Appletize, tonic, cold brew coffee…. the list is endless. Do you like it? Mix it)

Method:

Fill your long glass with the ice

Add your whiskey of choice (we’ll say 35ml, but you do you!)

Top up with your mixer of choice

Stir 2-3 times slowly to allow the whiskey to blend a bit more with the mixer.

Some may say mixing whiskey like this is sacrilege, but we say, “Drink it your way!” Play with flavor, and you may discover a new favorite.

One way to make your whiskey taste even better is the secret ingredient of smugness. Smugness comes with knowing that the whiskey you have used comes from your own barrel, which you can choose from our portfolio. Our team will be able to tell you about our barrel ownership process and guide you through buying your own cask. You can contact us via the link below.

We are on a mission to make whiskey barrel ownership accessible to collectors worldwide. As the first-ever global marketplace for whiskey barrels, you can connect with distilleries and collectors worldwide to build your own portfolio. For a whiskey experience unlike any other, request access today, barrelglobal.

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