Mix sugar and water. Stir until sugar is dissolved.“One of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak.”—Barbadian national rhyme
Although the name itself does not sound appealing (we really don’t want to drink anything that has the word fish in the name), this very strong concoction hails from a fishing club in Philadelphia. It was first served in 1732, and the first record of its ingredients was published in 1744.
INGREDIENTS
½ cup sugar
1¾ cups water
¾ cup fresh lemon juice
375 ml amber rum
6 oz cognac
1 oz peach brandy
Ice
To Make Mixed Drink:
2 cups premade half ice tea and half lemonade
Rumor has it that George Washington raised a glass thirteen times to toast all thirteen colonies and did not recover for three days (thirteen days would’ve made a funnier story). We feel your pain, George. Oh, do we feel your pain.
DIRECTIONS
Mix sugar and water. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
Add lemon juice, rum, cognac, peach brandy, and sugar water into an airtight container. Seal and store mixture in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours. The alcohol flavor of the Fish House Punch will soften the longer it is stored.
You can serve this two ways: on the rocks or as a mixed drink. To make the mixed drink, combine in a blender ½ cup Fish House Punch, 1 cup ice, and 2 cups premade half ice tea and half lemonade mixture. Blend briefly until ice is crushed. The mixture will briefly develop foam on top, but it will quickly go away, leaving a drink that tastes like ice tea without an alcohol flavor.
This is deceivingly good. This portion serves two. However, double or triple the batch to serve a big group of friends, but maybe do not raise your glass thirteen times; once or twice should suffice.
A VERY BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SPANISH SETTLEMENT IN THE NEW WORLD
When the Spanish arrived in the New World, they were shocked and horrified at the available foods. Spain was a nation of clear class distinctions and extremely stubborn beliefs in what was considered “proper food.” Reports were sent back to the homeland that there just wasn’t enough Spanish food, so great effort was put into establishing crops that suited their particular tastes. Since the Spanish settled in areas such as Florida and New Mexico, their European crops did well in these climates. They certainly made some adaptations, and after working with the indigenous people from these areas, they eventually discovered a few modern favorites . . .
LET THEM EAT (LITTLE) CAKE!
One of the most popular discoveries in the New World was what the Spanish settlers called tortillas (which translates to little cake). Yup, that’s right, tortillas! These flat, round disks of dough were the primary food source of the Aztecs (and had been since about 3000 BC). Maize pancakes for everyone! The Spanish colonists were won over by this new bread, and exciting culinary collaborations emerged. Culture and opinions were shifting and colliding. The settlers enjoyed the new flavors, filling and dipping their pancakes with spices and game.
CUCKOO FOR COCOA
The cocoa bean was used as a form of currency and also to flavor water (along with hot chilies) by the Aztecs and Mayans. It was a sacred crop dating back thousands of years. During one of his visits, Christopher Columbus collected and brought back the beans to Spain. The concept of drinking cocoa took off and soon became quite popular with Spanish nobility, with some minor modifications. The Spanish palate did not favor the bitter cocoa taste, so sugar was added.
