Charles Joly, Smithsonian Team Up For An All-American Drink

By Lisa White in Food on Aug 12, 2014 4:05PM

Right before Charles Joly visited London to bring home the title of World Class Bartender of the Year, he was busy doing another patriotic duty for his country. Joly teamed up with Smithsonian Channel and Smithsonian National Museum of American History as a participant in their "Raise A Glass" series, celebrating the 200th anniversary of "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Mixologists from around the country have crafted a series of original cocktails to celebrate this important time period in American history. All these delicious tipples and their makers will come together in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 12 at a gala to celebrate their Star-Spangled Banner-inspired cocktails, with all proceeds going to support the research efforts at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History's American Food History Project.

Joly's addition to the lineup is the Second War Shrub, a cocktail made of ingredients that would have existed in 1814 when "The Star-Spangled Banner" was originally written. Shrubs were popular at that time because it utilized preservation techniques to enjoy fruit past its season. Not to mention the slightly sweet yet tart flavors pair beautifully in a cocktail.

Check out the video below so you can try your hand making the cocktail at home, then head over to the Smithsonian Channel site for the full recipe. Also check out their blog for some interesting American cocktail history.