Bourbon and Our Flag

It's a great day to be an American. Officially it's Flag Day, the day we celebrate our Nation's flag and all it represents. Unofficially, it's National Bourbon Day, the day we celebrate a truly American beverage. It's a pairing made in America.

On June 14, 1777 the Continental Congress resolved "That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."  Our first flag has evolved over time to the one we proudly fly today with 13 stripes and 50 stars. It's the most striking of any Nation's flag in my opinion. Many misguided people in the US today claim our flag is a racist or oppressive symbol. Ironically, a majority of those making those accusations, would hardly be as free, if even allowed to live, under the governments they so ignorantly wish to emulate. 

National Bourbon Day came later. It was on May 4, 1964 that Congress proclaimed Bourbon to be Congress declares bourbon a “distinctive product of the United States.” I am not sure when the holiday was proclaimed, nor how the day came to be celebrated on June 14. Tradition, or legend, holds that May 4 was the first time bourbon was distilled, but who would really know? It most likely had more to do with distillery marketing than history. There is certainly an argument that could be be made for joining it with Flag Day given its connection to our Nation.

So fly the flag and enjoy a sip of bourbon today, and be thankful for both.

Cheers!