On this day in 1791, the first U.S Internal Revenue Act was born to help the Federal Government pay for debts incurred during the Revolutionary War against the British. This first direct tax on American citizens was for distilling spirits, and it was payable only in cash.
The trouble was that much of the country was still on the barter system. Outside of major cities, citizens regularly traded tobacco, jewelry (including wampum), beaver skins, and whiskey, rather than pay for goods in cash. The U.S. Mint was still two years away from pressing coins. Colony monies, like the Pennsylvania Pound and other notes printed by Ben Franklin, exchanged at wildly different values in different states and they could be easily counterfeited. The Spanish Peso was the only foreign coin that was widely accepted across the country.
Protests sprouted up in every state south of New York, led by rural distillers and farmers who never did business in cash. These protests finally erupted into the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. Washington ordered an army of 12,000 militiamen to stop the rebellion, viewing it as a critical threat to the Federal authority of their brand-new county. The rebellion was successfully squashed, but the event also birthed the country’s moonshine black market.
Americans still pay taxes on the booze they make and sell. In fact, distillers now pay a whopping $2.70 to $13.50 per gallon to the IRS before you pay sales tax. So please remember to smile and be kind whenever you meet a purveyor of their own spirits.
Music Du Jour: Songs for Tax Day playlist
Films Du Jour:
Snacks du Jour: Cheese, smoked or salted meats, or any food pickled or dried.
Cocktail Du Jour – The Old Fashioned
Based in New York in 1806, the Old Fashioned (though not named yet) was the first American cocktail. 200+ years later it is still one of the best.
Shake ingredients with ice in a shaker. Pour over a single big ice cube in a whiskey glass. Garnish with whatever you want…it’s going to be satisfying.
Mocktail Du Jour – Old Fashioned Mocktail
Shake ingredients with ice in a shaker. Pour over a single big ice cube in a whiskey glass. Garnish with whatever you want…it’s going to be satisfying.
Beer Du Jour
Sam Addams, pumpkin ales, or hard root beer.
Wine Du Jour
What wine was Thomas Jefferson storing during and after the war?
Madeira, Champaigne, Sherry, and Bordeaux.
Use freshly squeezed citrus in your cocktails and mocktails when called for – It makes such a difference! Here’s a reliable and inexpensive juicer.
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Photo credit: “Leaning on Whiskey” AI art by BDJ, 2024.
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Beverage Du Jour is an obscure holiday blog featuring cocktail and mocktail recipes, beer, wine, music, films/shows, and party themes for planning your day like the fun and thoughtful spirit you were born to be.
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