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- Pete
- New Jersey
- Since my first trip to Gettysburg as a young boy, I've been captivated by History. I get it from my mom. Although she passed away when I was just 13, she still had an influence on me. All our family vacations were stitched around some historical site. So, history geeks are in my blood. I'm a graphic designer by profession and a semi-amateur painter. I love to explore history through my paintbrush. I've also done living history to get a first hand feel for "what it was like". Looking at history through the eyes of the common man (or woman) and understanding the personal, human drama is really the spice that flavors the historical stew!
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Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Sippin' History
Fall is in the air. Leaves are turning and nights are getting cool. Like many history geeks I enjoy getting comfy with my favorite history book and a glass of something to warm my insides this time of year. There is but one choice for me: Laird's Apple Jack. It's history in a bottle!
This entry's illustration is a 5"x7" oil painting I did of a Revolutionary War soldier hoisting a bottle of Laird's. Perhaps it's even Robert Laird who served under George Washington during the war. By that time, Laird's had been making Apple Jack in Monmouth County, New Jersey for over 70 years. William Laird came to the US in 1698 from Scotland and started distilling soon afterwards. By 1717 he owned the Colts Neck Inn (which still stands today) and served his Apple Brandy there. George Washington was already acquianted with the Lairds by the time Robert served in the army. In 1760 he wrote the family asking for the recipe. According to the website, he's the only one who ever got it.
Laird's also has the distinction of holding commercial distilling license number one in the United States, which was granted in 1780. The Laird family business survived war, fire and prohibition in order to stick around for nearly 300 years. If you like history and the occaisional tipple, you have to try this stuff!
Ok, so how do you drink it? There's plenty of recipes on their site, but being a Jersey boy, might I suggest the Jersey Cocktail. I wish I could take complete credit for the idea, but my buddy Fred is really the inventor. You see, New Jersey is also famous for cranberry production so he likes to mix his Apple Jack with cranberry juice in a tall glass over ice. Simple and refined, like the man himself.
I'm a bit of a mixologist, so my recipe is a little more involved. I like to describe Apple Jack as bourbon made with apples. It's not quite, but you get the idea. So, I do a Jersey style manhattan. Put ice, Apple Jack and cranberry juice into a shaker (ratios to taste) and add a splash of sweet Vermouth. Shake vigorously and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a couple of fresh cranberries. Then, sit back, kick up your feet and raise a glass to old William Laird from county Fyfe Scotland! Where's that book? What's on the History Channel? Can't you just taste the history?
I can, but I'm a geek.
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4 comments:
It was so nice of you to do a painting of my Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather! Even if it -is- a bit fanciful. I'm thrilled! I'm always looking for more info on my lineage and I was happy to happen on your blog entry. If you have any other info of Robert's father and grandfather, I'd love to have it.
Thanks again!
-- Robert Laird
rlaird -at- cavediver -dot- com
Pete, Great figure study. I think this is one of your stronger pieces. In addition to the art your blog entries always make for an entertaining read. ~Gary
Robert,
I'm glad you like it! You're right, it is fanciful and to be honest it was originally meant to be a generic Revolutionary War soldier. As I was painting it, the Laird's connection occured to me. I wish I had more info, but all of what I got for the article is from the company website.
That said, I am working on a reconstruction of a friend's ancestor who served in the Jersey Militia. If you have more info on your great-great-great Grandfather I'd love do a more accurate depiction!
Gary,
Thanks! I am, for once, happy with this one too. Keith keeps telling me there's no other way to get better than to keep on painting. You have a great piece going on your blog too. The face is particularly well done.