WASP Wednesday: The Game

Phew, it has been a BUSY few weeks, but Muffy and I are finally back with WASP Wednesdays.

One of the biggest games in the WASP culture took place last week, the Harvard-Yale game! The Game was played this past weekend, on Saturday, November 21st to be exact. Now, if ever you were looking for a true WASP show this would a perfect place to go. After a night filled with alumni reunions tail gating commences in before The Game's noon start. The area is filled with a see of crimson red and blue as far as the eyes can see. Many WASPS pull out their old knit letter sweaters for the occasion. These can be paired with a tweed shirt or pants in the appropriate color of course. Some WASPs even sport their Belgian loafers in their schools color! Tailgate tables are set up with silver, small floral arrangements, pendant flags and lots and lots of catered food. This is one of the season's events and it is not to be missed!The Game dates back to 1875 and was actually one of the very first games played between two US institutions (two of the oldest and most prestigious too!). Through the years the Yale Bulldogs have won 65 games and Harvard Crimson just 53, this year included in their win tally. However, even though this is an intense Ivy (and WASP) rivalry at the end of the day there is lots of comradery.
Now, since most WASPs love a good drink at a tailgate, here are some festive drinks for The Game (found on the Bostonist when typing in Harvard Yale Game recipes to Google).

Harvard Cooler
1/2 tsp. superfine sugar
2 oz. carbonated water
2 oz. applejack
Stir sugar and carbonated water together in a 12 oz. Collins glass. Fill with cracked ice and add applejack. Top off with more carbonated water, or ginger ale. Insert spiral of orange peel or lemon peel (or both, it says) and dangle the end (or ends!) over the rim of the glass.

Daly's Bartenders' Encyclopedia, published by Tim Daly of Worcester, Mass., in 1903 ("price, 50 cents") lists a more complicated Yale Punch, which "derives its name from the fact of its popularity with students, not only at Yale, but other colleges where they desire everything of the best." We have converted the measurements from pony glasses and wine glasses, but without having made one of these, we can't help you with the indecisiveness of the dashes:

Yale Punch
1 tsp. sugar dissolved in a little water
1 or 3 dashes lemon juice
1 or 2 dashes lime juice
2 or 3 dashes raspberry syrup
2 or 3 dashes Bénédictine
1/2 oz. St. Croix rum (probably any decent dark rum will do here)
2 oz. brandy (the recipe specifies Hennessey)
Mix in a glass filled with ice, and festoon with mint and seasonal fruits. Serve with those newfangled drinking straws.