Mr. Boston Official Bartender's Guide

We owe this classic southern cocktail to the Chatham Artillery, Georgia's oldest military unit. The fine folks of Savannah have been mixing up this potent potable since at least the late 1700s. Legend has it that sometime around 1791, George Washington came to visit the Chatham Artillery on short notice. In keeping with their southern hospitality, the artillery members and their wives threw together what they had on hand and created this punch, which they then served at a ball in the president's honor. The punch was a hit and became a southern tradition, often being mixed in horse buckets when served in larger quantities. Watch out for this one. Like many delicious cocktails, it's been known to sneak up on people.