In partnership with the National Archives, Derek Brown, the first-ever "Chief Spirits Advisor" to the Archives, has developed a new History of the Cocktail seminar series to discuss the role of spirits in U.S. history. In this ten-part series, some of the top writers, bartenders, spirit-makers, and thinkers in spirits and cocktails will discuss various eras in the history of the cocktail, shedding light on our Spirited Republic. 

American Drinking B.C. (Before the Cocktail)
David Suro-Piñera, Steve Olson, Derek Brown
Moderator: M. Carrie Allan, Washington Post

It seems that America was drinking not only in the nascent stages of the Republic but long before. In this symposium, we will discuss the continent before widespread settlements, leading up to colonization, and the variety and kinds of drinks that were consumed. This includes some revelatory information about possible pre-Hispanic distillation to the first wine to come to the Americas with Christopher Columbus, sherry.

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