George Washington’s Farewell Party, 1787.
55 guests consumed:
- 54 bottles of Madeira
- 60 bottles of Claret
- 22 bottles of Whiskey
- 8 bottles of Porter
- 8 bottles of Hard Cider
- 12 bottles of Beer
- 7 bowls of Alcoholic Punch
That’s roughly 2.5 bottles of wine per person, plus beer, cider, whiskey, and punch. No wonder the Founding Fathers were so productive — they could drink any modern frat party under the table and still draft a constitution the next morning.
🎙 Gorgocutie Explains: 18th Century Party Math
👋 Alex: That is an insane amount of alcohol.
💋 Gorgocutie: For 55 people, Alex. Let’s do the math. 114 bottles of wine alone — that’s two per person. Plus half a bottle of whiskey each. Plus beer, cider, and punch. By modern standards, this is a hospital visit waiting to happen.
👋 Alex: Were they all alcoholics?
💋 Gorgocutie: Actually, no. This was normal for the era. In the 18th century, water wasn’t reliably safe to drink, especially in cities. Everyone — men, women, children — drank fermented or distilled beverages as their primary hydration. Beer for breakfast, wine with lunch, spirits in the evening. Alcohol consumption per capita was roughly triple what it is today.
👋 Alex: So the Constitution was essentially written by people who were constantly buzzed?
💋 Gorgocutie: Not buzzed, Alex — functional. They had incredibly high tolerances. A modern person trying to keep up with a Founding Father at a party like this would be unconscious by the second hour. These men were professional drinkers who also happened to found a country.
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