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17 Historically Hilarious Facts About Alcohol
Diply ^ | 11/6/15 | staff

Posted on 11/06/2015 11:06:03 AM PST by Heartlander

17 Historically Hilarious Facts About Alcohol

If you thought we were the first generation who liked to get our drink on, then you are sadly mistaken. Yes indeed, our forefathers and their forefathers and THEIR forefathers all liked to wet their whistles and get a little tipsy. You know how sometimes, when you have a few too many, you start to spit out random facts about things you didn't even realize you knew? Well, put your party hat on, because here are 17 historical facts about booze that will leave you laughing.

1. Consumable Alcohol Has Been Dated Back To As Far As 12 000 Years Ago.

When the ancient tribes first started learning about farming, they also stumbled upon the process of making good old fashioned booze. In fact, in their attempts to feed their beer guts, these ancestors may have even inspired the new agricultural technologies that would eventually lead to the Neolithic Revolution. Cheers to that!

2. Ancient Babylonians Used To Drown Those Who Ruined A Batch

I'm pretty sure this was the very first form of the party foul. Screw up a game of beer pong - finish your drink. Ruin a batch in Ancient Babylonia - drown yourself in it. Rules are rules, folks. 

3. The Oldest Known Recipe In The World Was For Beer

Way before your mom's tuna fish casserole and Uncle Pete's famous artery - clogging meatball sandwiches, the world was trying to find a way to quench their thirst and get the party started. You've got to flip to the very first page of historical recipes for this one.

4. Sailors Used To Light Their Drinks On Fire To Test The Proof Of Their Rum

Before pounding a few back, sailors used to mix their rum with gunpowder and try igniting it. If It caught fire, or blew up, it was good rum. Seems logical enough. 

5. Vikings Used To Toast To Their Victories By Drinking From The Skulls Of Their Enemies

Hey, sometimes when you can't find a clean shot glass you have to improvise. Who knew the vikings were so damn resourceful?

6. The Puritans Actually Took More Beer and Wine Than Water With Them On The Mayflower

Clean water wasn't at the top of the grocery list when the Puritans were preparing for their voyage aboard the Mayflower, but as long as they have enough wine and beer what could possibly go wrong? 

7. Winston Churchill's Mother Was Originally Thought To Have Invented The Manhattan Cocktail

Sir Winston may have been one of the greatest wartime leaders of all time, but his mother was allegedly the one who gave the world a fancy new drink to sip on - both of which are incredibly admirable actions. Thank you, Churchill's, for changing the world for the better.

8. The Pyramids Were Built While Under The Influence

The workers at Giza used to receive about 4 litres of beer a day. The only thing I've built with 4 litres of beer is a bad reputation. 

9. The Vikings Believed That Their Heaven Consisted Of A Magical Beer Brewing Goat

In the wonderful afterlife of Valhalla, the vikings believed there would be a goat who produced beer instead of milk. As cool as that would be, I think I'd still prefer a pint poured from a keg, thank you very much. 

10. The King Of Prussia Tried Banning Coffee So That More People Would Drink Liquor

Poor old Freddie The Great - all he wanted to do was party, but instead people had to drink their precious coffee. Here's to you, Freddie!

11. The Pilgrims Actually Stopped At Plymouth Rock Because They Were Low On Booze

Yes, one of the main reasons the Pilgrims decided to stop at Plymouth Rock was due to the fact that their cooler was empty. Desperately looking for the nearest liquor store, they just so happened to stumble across the Native Americans. The rest, of course, is history. 

12. Historians Believe That People Initially Farmed To Make Booze, Not Food

People have been trying to tie one on since the earliest days of agriculture. People didn't really care about growing their own food, they just wanted to get a little tipsy — the food thing was probably just a coincidence. 

13. Bourbon Was Named The Alcoholic Drink Of America In 1964 By Congress

It was a huge "Party In The USA" when the government acknowledged bourbon as the country's drink of choice. Even though she wasn't born yet, I like to imagine Congress rocking out to Miley Cyrus' tunes while sharing a few glasses of bourbon—that's the America I want to live in.

14. Abe Lincoln Had A Liquor License And Actually Operated Several Taverns

Honest Abe loved to kick back with a cold one after a hard day of running the country. In fact, in his spare time he could be found tending bar at one of his many taverns. Wouldn't "Honest Abe's" be a wicked bar name?

15. Magellan Brought More Booze Than Weapons On His Voyage

Many historians have documented the fact that Magellan loved to drink Sherry so much that he actually packed his ship with more booze than weaponry when he was preparing for his voyage. That's right, not only did Magellan organize the Spanish Inquisition, but he also performed the first real road trip. 

16. The First Thanksgiving Didn't Have Mashed Potatoes, But Tons Of Booze

We've all experienced the massive food hangover after a few too many plates of Thanksgiving turkey, but the pilgrims and their hosts probably experienced real hangovers after a meal that consisted of wine, beer and other party drinks.

17. George Washington Had His Own Personal Brewhouse

Even the first president needed to get away from it all once in a while. His version of a man cave was his own personal brewhouse where he'd often escape to whenever Martha would try to get him to talk about their relationship. 


TOPICS: Education; History; Society
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To: Dan Cooper

I do it on purpose. Just bottled 5 gallons last Saturday. Should be fit to drink in a couple of months. Although a good long 6-8 month rest is better.


41 posted on 11/06/2015 3:35:52 PM PST by Lurker (Violence is rarely the answer. But when it is it is the only answer.)
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To: Heartlander
5. Vikings Used To Toast To Their Victories By Drinking From The Skulls Of Their Enemies

Mike Vanderboegh's Aunt Jenny made a soapdish of the skull of one of her enemies.

42 posted on 11/06/2015 3:52:26 PM PST by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: dearolddad

LOL Hic!


43 posted on 11/06/2015 3:54:17 PM PST by laplata ( Liberals/Progressives have diseased miHe's just not a good presidential candnds.)
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To: Politicalkiddo

And Lizzie Borden. Don’t know what that says about me. ;)


Stay away from hatchets and booze. LOL


44 posted on 11/06/2015 3:56:05 PM PST by laplata ( Liberals/Progressives have diseased miHe's just not a good presidential candnds.)
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To: Heartlander

The British forbade the Colonies to purchase goods from other than themselves, which was a problem when Madeira was the tipple of choice amongst the strickly uppa crust. A fellow in Boston owned a fast sloop named the Liberty that the British foully and unjustly accused was involved in wine smuggling, and then they confiscated it and used it to run down other smugglers. The fellow’s name was John Hancock, and of course he was as innocent as the day is long, M’Lud. No way he was smuggling wine. No one knows how it got aboard. Well, mostly no one.


45 posted on 11/06/2015 4:03:53 PM PST by Billthedrill
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To: Lurker

Will give it a try..... purist at heart versus mixed but Girl Friday says ya have great taste....:o)

Stay Safe !!


46 posted on 11/06/2015 8:13:53 PM PST by Squantos ( Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet ...)
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