George Washington’s farewell party bar tab still survives. With just 55 guests, they consumed 54 bottles of Madeira, 60 bottles of claret, 8 bottles of whiskey, 22 bottles of porter, 8 bottles of hard cider, 12 bottles of beer, and 7 bowls of alcoholic punch. In September 1787, just days before the U.S. Constitution was signed, George Washington attended a farewell dinner at Philadelphia’s City Tavern with fellow Constitutional Convention delegates and members of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry (then known as the Light Horse of Philadelphia). More than a tavern, City Tavern served as one of Revolutionary America’s leading centers for politics, business, and public life, where influential figures gathered to debate ideas, conduct business, and exchange news. The surviving receipt has become famous because it offers a rare snapshot of 18th-century drinking culture. Madeira, prized for surviving long Atlantic voyages, was a favorite among wealthy Americans, while claret, porter, cider, beer, whiskey, and punch were all staples of social gatherings. The dinner marked a pivotal moment in American history, coming just before the Constitution was signed and the nation’s new government began to take shape. Washington himself later became one of the country’s largest whiskey producers. At his Mount Vernon distillery, nearly 11,000 gallons of whiskey were produced in 1799, making it one of the largest commercial distilleries in early America.(Historic Vids)