Was looking at multiple versions of this chart and was curious as what “pepper in rum” is? I assume rum infused with peppers or peppercorns, but can’t find it mentioned anywhere else in a very brief search I did.
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I don’t have any insight, but man I love everything about this chart.
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Pepper in rum was just what it sounds like—rum infused with hot (red) peppers. It was a sort of proto-cocktail; a morning pick-me-up or antifogmatic. You find the occasional allusion to it in rural American newspapers from the period right after the Revolution.
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Thanks for the answer. Any particular reason why it’s at the top (or bottom?) for worst possible drink to consume? Other than the obvious that it’s a pretty crude drink?
I think it’s probable that the author of this tract was compulsive about making and ordering lists, however arbitrarily. Perhaps a question of personal taste?
I think it’s because the pepper, like the alcohol, was considered fiery—not only is it not mediating the strength of the booze, it’s actually adding to it.
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