The Tasting Panel magazine

April 2015

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38  /  the tasting panel  /  april 2015 EXHIBITS T he normally hushed rotunda of the National Archives in Washington, DC was a lively spot on Tuesday, March 10th, as they kicked off the official opening party for a new exhibit, Spirited Republic: Alcohol in American History. In a hall next to the hallowed displays that hold the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, party-goers nibbled on a gener- ous buffet and enjoyed a variety of libations, including a specially created Spirited Republic Punch from well-known DC mixologist and restaurant owner, Derek Brown. Following brief state- ments from A'Lelia Bundles, the Chair of the National Archives Foundation, in which Brown was named the Archive's first Chief Spirits Advisor, attendees were treated to a guided tour of the exhibit, as well as a demon- stration of Brown's commemorative drink, with a few words from him on the history of punch. Presented by the National Archives Foundation and sponsored by HISTORY, the Lawrence F. O'Brien Family, THE TASTING PANEL Magazine and the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America, Spirited Republic explores the passion- ate, but often troubled relationship that Americans and the U.S. government has had with beverage alcohol, through a thoughtful selection of documents, historic illustrations, photographs, videos and artifacts. Visitors can view such fascinating items as a 1780 petition to the Continental Congress asking that whiskey be provided to the Continental Army, a myriad of pro- paganda published during the rise of the Temperance movement (both pro and con) and even the actual National Prohibition Act, otherwise known as the Volstead Act, that ushered in the age of prohibition. Additional support for the exhibit has been provided by the Beer Institute, the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S., the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association and the National Beer Wholesalers Association, underscoring the coordinated enthusiasm from the beverage industry for having this story told. The idea for Spirited Republic grew out of the success of What's Cooking, Uncle Sam?, A 2011 National Archives exhibit on food safety regulation and nutrition in America that ran from June 2011 to January 2012. "We started working on this exhibit almost immediately after What's Cooking," says Bundles. "It seemed like a logical companion piece that folks would find equally compelling." The National Archives Museum is located on Constitution Avenue NW at 9th Street in Washington, DC, and is free and open to the public from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm daily except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Spirited Republic opened on March 6, 2015 and will run until January 10, 2016. It is a "must see" for alcoholic beverage industry nerds, as well as the enthusiastic drinking public. Star-Spangled Spirits THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES KICKS OFF ITS NEW EXHIBIT "SPIRITED REPUBLIC: ALCOHOL IN AMERICAN HISTORY" story and photo by David Denton Spirited Republic Punch by Derek Brown 1 bottle Rye Whiskey 1 bottle Jamaican Rum 6 oz. peach brandy 9 oz. fresh lime juice Oleo-saccharum 6 oz. hickory-smoked cola syrup (Derek's own recipe—can substitute regular simple syrup) Sparkling mineral water to taste Grated nutmeg Muddle lemon peels with fine sugar to create a lemon/sugar paste. Add lime juice and the hickory smoked syrup. Combine with the spirits and top with sparkling water. Serve in a punch bowl over a large ice ring and garnish with lemon and lime wheels and grated nutmeg. A'Lelia Bundles, the Chair of the National Archives Foundation, gives a short speech to launch the "Spirited Republic: Alcohol in American History" exhibit. LOGO COURTESY OF NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION

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