By Jody Kurash

The?United States?marked?its?milestone?250^th?birthday this month with much jubilation.?In our nation’s capital,?the festivities were?tainted?by politics: Trump’s “Great American State Fair”?was scarred by low turnout, canceled performers, states not participating, weather extremes and an algae-filled reflecting pool.

In New York City,?the Empire State Building was lit up?in red,?white?and blue. Navy jets soared?over the?city?and?tall?ships filled the harbor. However,?even these grand events seemed?overshadowed by Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s nuptials at Madison Square?Garden.

Perhaps?the?city that should have received the most attention was a tad overlooked. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted?in Independence Hall?in Philadelphia, making?it?the birthplace of the?American Revolution.

As we begin the country’s?quarter-millennium,?there are still many chances to toast the city that sparked the fire.?While?Philadelphia does not have a legally mandated municipal drink,?it’s?famous for?some?legendary concoctions.

Originating in the 1880s, the?Clover Club is a classic, pre-Prohibition cocktail.?The drink takes its name from an elite?gentlemen’s club, composed of prominent bankers, journalists, politicians and business leaders, that?met regularly at Philadelphia’s Bellevue-Stratford Hotel.

A more robust tipple that?put the City of Brotherly Love on the map is Philadelphia Fish House Punch, one of America’s oldest surviving cocktail recipes. Dating back to 1730,?it predates?the founding of our great nation.

This?high-proof drink was created at the Schuylkill Fishing Company, a famous colonial angling club. A potent combination of rum, cognac, peach brandy, lemon juice, simple syrup and cold black tea, it was made in large batches to satisfy a crowd, making it a convenient?option?for?an?afternoon?backyard barbecue (but a bit potent for day drinking).

If?you’re?looking for something more modern,?there’s?the Philly Flyer, which won a contest sponsored by Philadelphia Magazine in 2011.

This creation?is forged from Bluecoat Gin,?a?local spirit, its name inspired by the patriots that won the Revolutionary War.?According to the website, the name “bluecoat” refers to the ordinary citizens — farmers, doctors,?blacksmiths?and lawyers — united in common cause to free our country?from?the British Crown. These courageous folks, who took up arms and fought for?independence,?were known as bluecoats.

Although Philadelphia?has a strong cocktail?culture, with?many talented mixologists, the contest was won by an amateur, Rick?Fitzgerald,?which?reflects?the plucky spirit of the?rebels who fought off?Britain’s?well-trained military regime.

The Philly Flyer is a variation on the classic?Aviation?cocktail, the main difference being the liqueur used to?flavor?and?color?the drink. While both share a base of gin, lemon juice and maraschino liqueur, the Philly Flyer swaps out the Aviation’s?crème de?violette?for?the more accessible crème de cassis, a black current spirit.

With enough sweet fruitiness to make it a summer?hit, the resulting cocktail is tempered by the complex?gin botanicals and lemon, keeping?it?refreshing, with a crisp edge.

While Caps fans may not appreciate imbibing a drink with a rival team’s moniker,?let’s?look at it as a metaphor for the nation’s next era.?It’s?time to fly!

The Philly Flyer

2 oz. Bluecoat Gin

1/2 oz. fresh lemon juice

1/3 oz.?Luxardo?Maraschino liqueur

1/4 oz. crème de cassis

Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.?Shake well until chilled, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass.