Portrait by William Swain, National Portrait Gallery. Image via Wikicommons.

Farragut Cocktails

We’re celebrating the 215th Birthday of Admiral David Farragut with the Farragut Cocktail!

Who is David Farragut?

On this date in 1801, James Glasgow Farragut was born in Campbell’s Station, Tennessee (now known as Farragut, TN). The first-ever admiral in the U.S. Navy, Farragut, is most famous for the quote, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead” during the Battle of Mobile Bay in 1864.

Farragut, thought the influence of naval officer David Porter, his adoptive father, was appointed a midshipman at age 9 and fought during the War of 1812. During the Civil War, President Lincoln promoted Farragut to the rank of vice admiral in 1864. Farragut achieved the rant of full admiral through act of Congress in 1866.

Admiral Farragut died on Aug. 14, 1870, after nearly 60 years of service to the United States Navy.

Admiral Farragut’s Drinking Habits:

Farragut was by no means a heavy drinker. According to an 1890’s report in the Methodist review, David Farragut “…had only severe condemnation for the drinking habits of the time.” and that he “never entered a saloon to drink.” Despite these accounts, the admiral was never a total abstainer where alcohol was concerned and was known to enjoy wine with dining with company.

When dining alone or in the midst of teetotalers, Farragut was said to sip on a goblet of cold water with the addition of a tablespoon of whisky instead of coffee or tea.

Wit & Wisdom‘s Farragut Cocktail

Nicole and I first encountered the Farragut cocktail a delicious mix of bourbon, walnut liquor, maple syrup and lemon while researching our book on Maryland Cocktails in 2014. At the time, our friend Aaron Joseph was working as head bartender at Wit & Wisdom and Nicole’s workplace was close by, so it was pretty much inevitable that this drink would become one of our favorites. The historical inspiration didn’t hurt either.

Even though this article is going out in the summer, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Farragut is full of fantastic autumn flavors and is a must-have when it appears on their fall drinks menu.

The Farragut

Created at Wit and Wisdom, Baltimore, MD. Recipe courtesy of Aaron Joseph.

Ingredients:

1 oz. Four Roses bourbon
¼ oz. lemon juice
¼ oz. orange juice
¼ oz. maple sugar
2 dashes of Angostura bitters

Directions:

In a cocktail shaker mix bourbon, lemon and orange juice, maple sugar, and bitters  together. Shake vigorously.
Fill a double old-fashioned glass with ice and strain into the glass.
Garnish with cinnamon and orange peel zest.