2020 has been a year filled with challenges and firsts, with frustrations and furloughs, with compassion and compromise. COVID-19 has changed our personal and professional lives and we are only beginning to see a glimmer of life after isolation. As we celebrate this year it is nice to remember the history of Memorial Day, which became an Official American Federal Holiday in 1971 but it’s origins trace back to the years following the conclusion of the American Civil War as a way to honor those making the ultimate sacrifice in the US Military. As a child in Southern Kentucky I would attend “Decoration” with my Grandmother, we would go to graveyards in our home town and neighboring towns cleaning and decorating the sites of our ancestors with flowers, flags for the veterans, and small toys for the headstones of the babies who had died, it was a day spent remembering our loved ones and is a tradition our family still honors today.

More recently Memorial Day has also become the unofficial Kick-Off Weekend to summer with parades, vacations, and memorials, it is a weekend spent with families and friends, culminating with the traditional BBQ on Monday, the last day in May. This year as we continue to honor the men and women who have died in service to our country, we also take a moment to honor the healthcare workers and all those who have worked during the safe at home orders with a cocktail.

As I was working on this post, I wanted to present a drink to capture the spirit of the origin of Memorial Day and reflect the challenges of COVID-19 today. I researched spirits in the United States after the civil war and decided to create a cocktail called Civism. Merriam-Webster defines Civism as the virtues and sentiments of a good citizen and Aristotle defined a good citizen as a good friend. This cocktail is made with American Spirits but any available brand of the called for spirits will work and the egg white is optional if you do not enjoy egg whites with your cocktail but will add a great texture and flavor to the final spirit.

Whether you are celebrating at home or are venturing out of quarantine we raise our flags, hug our loved ones and say “Cheers” in celebration to all those who have served and sacrificed for our country and community -past and present.

Civism Cocktail

1 oz Ole Smoky Straight Whiskey

½ oz Copper & King’s American Apple Brandy

½ oz Trincheri Sweet Vermouth

½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice

½ oz Eli Mason Grenadine

1 small egg white

Build all ingredients in a mixing glass, add ice and shake.  Strain into a cocktail glass.

Garnish with a fresh mint sprig.