Written by Did you know that George Washington had a deep love for cherries?
Yes. It’s true!
This interesting fact about the first President of the United States recently resurfaced when a search of his estate uncovered bottles of cherries preserved in brandy.
A priceless discovery was made in the basement of George Washington’s Mount Vernon home – a large collection of preserved cherries.
Mount Vernon officials revealed that archaeologists found 35 glass bottles containing cherries in six separate storage areas shortly after two bottles were discovered in April 2024.
Out of the 35 bottles, six were damaged, while the remaining 29 were intact. Twelve bottles contained cherries, 16 had other berries thought to be currants and gooseberries, and one larger bottle held a mix of cherries and other berries.
The bottles were only found because Mount Vernon is undergoing a $40 million renovation project for the mansion, which they aim to complete by the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026.
One expert has nicknamed one of the storage areas the “Revolutionary War pit,” where the bottles were found.
Inside the bottles, the researchers think that a lot of the golden liquid might be groundwater that got into the bottles as their corks rotted over time.
Image Credit: Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association
The researchers have found 54 cherry pits, 23 stems, and some pulp. The cherries are probably sour, and their natural acidity might have helped them last longer.
The stems were still attached and seemed neatly cut, suggesting they were snipped with shears.
Analysts are likely to be able to extract DNA from the remains, and they’re also investigating growing the pits.
Washington spent most of his life at his family’s estate in Virginia. He took control of the property in 1754 and slowly developed the home. The family relied on hundreds of enslaved people to operate Mount Vernon.
According to Mount Vernon News, the bottles, believed to be from the 1740s to the 1750s, were discovered under a brick floor in the 1770s.
Mount Vernon’s main archaeologist, Jason Boroughs, said it’s extremely rare to find so much well-preserved food from over 250 years ago.
Researchers believe the cherries were likely collected at Mount Vernon in the 1770s, possibly before the Revolutionary War, and stored for future use.
Mount Vernon records show that George and Martha Washington liked cherries, especially when mixed with brandy.
There’s a surviving recipe for Martha Washington’s “cherry bounce” cocktail, and it’s known that George Washington carried a canteen of cherry bounce with him on a trip across the Alleghenies in 1784.
They were likely brought from England during the colonial era, and the fruit may have been picked by enslaved people at the Washington family’s large house near the Potomac River in Washington, DC.
They may also have planted the trees, cut the stems, and placed the berries in the bottles.
According to experts, the preserved bottles and contents can reveal the knowledge and skill of the enslaved individuals who prepared food from the farm to the table.
Doll, the cook who came to Mount Vernon with Martha Washington in 1759 to manage the kitchen, was part of this.
Likely, these items haven’t been seen since before the American Revolution, maybe because they were forgotten when George Washington left Mount Vernon to lead the Continental Army.
The sealed bottles were taken to Mount Vernon’s archaeology lab, where they were opened and emptied. Researchers believed this would help keep the glass safe, as it had been sealed for hundreds of years.
To protect the nearly 250-year-old glass bottles, researchers transferred their contents – cherries, pits, stems, and a “sticky substance” – into smaller containers for future examination.
“We not only found unopened, intact bottles, but they also contained natural material that can provide us with valuable insights into the lives of people at Mount Vernon in the 18th century,” said Jason Boroughs, the lead archaeologist, in an interview with the Post.
He added, “These bottles have the potential to enhance the historical narrative, and we’re excited to analyze the contents so we can share this discovery with other researchers and the public.”
Mount Vernon is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is conducting DNA tests on the fruit. They also examined over 50 cherry pits in the bottles to see if they could be grown.
So, why is this discovery important?
Experts pointed out that the discovery can uncover stories as it represents bits of 18th-century life found in the ground.
The preserved bottles containing intact fruit, pits, and pulp provide a rare glimpse into the food preparation on plantations, as well as early American cuisine.
