Legendary Bar Tab from George Washington’s 1787 Farewell Party

Ain’t no party like a Washington Party! 

We know that George Washington used to belly up to the bar at the Warren Tavern in Charlestown, but after stumbling across a very impressive bar tab from 1787 for Washington’s farewell party in Philly, it’s making wonder, did the people of the 18th century drink more or less than now.

As the story goes, when Washington and his crew gathered at Philadelphia’s City Tavern to toast his departure from the Constitutional Convention, they did so in true 18th-century fashion—by drinking a lot.

The final bill? A staggering 54 bottles of Madeira, 60 bottles of claret, 8 bottles of whiskey, 22 bottles of porter, 8 bottles of hard ciders, 12 bottles of beer, and 7 large bowls of punch—all for a party of 55 people. If you’re doing the math, that’s more than two bottles of booze per person—not counting the punch!

Adjusted for inflation, that bar tab would have been well over $15,000 today, making it one of American history’s most impressive (and expensive) send-offs. And while Washington was known for his leadership and military strategy, it’s safe to say he also knew how to whoop it up!