Spirits of the Revolution: Punch Drinking in Colonial America

duration: 2 hours
meeting_point: 328 East Bay Street
min_age: 21
description: From the earliest days of European colonization in the 16th and 17th centuries, alcoholic beverages were a staple of daily life in North America. Used for everyday consumption, lavish celebrations, and formal ceremonies, alcohol crossed all social and economic boundaries.

Among these beverages, punch emerged as the ultimate social drink, filling the tables of bustling local taverns and elite private estates alike. This booming popularity created a lucrative niche market for European and Asian ceramic manufacturers, who rushed to produce specialized punch bowls and serving ware for eager colonists.

Today, fragments of excavated punch bowls discovered at Drayton Hall offer a fascinating window into the social history of early America on the eve of—and during—the American Revolution.

Experience a taste of revolutionary history with three authentic, historically accurate 18th-century punch recipes,
highlights: * Taste three authentic 18th-century punch recipes
* Learn how punch shaped social life and material culture in colonial America
* See connections between archaeological finds from Drayton Hall and everyday 18th-century life
check_in_details: Meet at 328 East Bay Street, Charleston, SC 29401.