George Washington used 160 gallons of rum to treat 391 voters to bumbo during campaigning for the Virginia House of Burgesses in July 1758

 In yesterday's post, it was mentioned that a bowl of Bumbo was thrown in a tavern brawl.  What the heck is Bumbo?

Bumbo (also known as bombo or bumboo) is a drink made from rum, water, sugar, and nutmeg.  Cinnamon is sometimes substituted for or added to the nutmeg. Modern bumbo is often made with dark rum, citrus juice, grenadine, and nutmeg.

A related drink is the Traitor, made with orange juice, rum, honey, and cactus, mixed and heated.

Bumbo was commonly used during election campaigns in colonial British America, to the extent that treating voters to gifts and other freebies during election campaigns was referred to as "swilling the planters with bumbo".  George Washington was particularly noted for using this technique. His papers state that he used 160 gallons of rum to treat 391 voters to bumbo during campaigning for the Virginia House of Burgesses in July 1758.

 That is what I call a campaign.  Nearly half a gallon of rum per voter.  Our campaigns are mind-numbingly boring.  Their's must have been mind-numbingly raucous at half a gallon of rum per voter.