STONE FENCE
The Stone Fence: America's Revolutionary Drink
The Stone Fence is one of America's oldest cocktails, served at taverns since at least the early 1800s. The most popular legend claims Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys drank Stone Fences at Remington's Tavern the night before capturing Fort Ticonderoga in 1775. While the story makes for good drinking lore, most historians agree it's probably folklore rather than fact.
What's certain is the drink predates the Revolutionary War and was a colonial staple. The name likely refers to the effect of drinking too many - similar to running downhill into an actual stone fence, as drinks historian David Wondrich noted.
The original recipe was dead simple: rum and hard cider poured over ice. Rum was the most accessible spirit in colonial America, and hard cider was everywhere since apples grew well and fermented cider stored better than fresh juice. As American whiskey production increased in the 1800s, bourbon and rye started replacing rum in the recipe.
The modern version typically uses two ounces of spirit - bourbon, rye, rum, or even applejack - topped with hard cider over ice. Some bartenders add Angostura bitters or fresh mint, though these are later additions not part of the original recipe.
Any mid-shelf bourbon or dark rum works here. The spirit provides warmth and backbone while the hard cider adds apple flavor and effervescence. Hard cider is essential - regular apple cider creates a completely different drink with less complexity and no boozy punch.
Making it takes thirty seconds. Pour your spirit into a pint glass or rocks glass with ice, top with hard cider, stir gently, and you're done. Some versions garnish with a lemon peel or freshly grated nutmeg.
The Stone Fence works perfectly for fall when fresh cider is abundant, but it's good year-round. The drink is refreshing without being light, warming without being heavy. It's approachable enough for people who don't usually drink spirits but still satisfying for whiskey or rum enthusiasts.
What makes the Stone Fence special is how simple it is. Two ingredients, no measuring required, ready in seconds. It's the kind of drink colonial tavern-goers could make quickly and enjoy while playing cards or planning raids on British forts.
Whether the Ethan Allen story is true or not, the Stone Fence has earned its place in American drinking history as one of the country's original cocktails.
RECIPE:
2 oz bourbon
Hard apple cider (top)
Dash of Angostura bitters
Method:
Build bourbon over fresh ice in a highball or Collins glass.
Dash of Bitters and top with hard cider and stir gently.
Optional: lemon wheel garnish.