About Independence Day, John Adams wrote: "It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations...." What? No booze?

Spirits played such a big part in the achievement of independence that Adams must have assumed their inclusion in its celebration. Adams himself greeted each dawn with a tankard of applejack. Thomas Jefferson worked on the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia's Indian Queen Tavern. Before the Revolution, the Sons of Liberty held their meetings in taverns. The first shot of the Revolution -- " the shot heard round the world" -- was fired in front of Lexington's Buckman Tavern where moments earlier Minutemen had been downing hot toddies and flip. During the Revolution George Washington bade Congress to build distilleries throughout the country so his troops wouldn't be thirsty. After the Revolution and his tenure as President, Washington himself took advantage of the young nation's great thirst for strong waters and earned his living partly by selling whiskey.

Today, Jack Daniel's, which opened in 1866 in Lynchburg, TN, is the oldest working distillery in the U.S. Over the years, the celebration of independence has been good to Jack Daniel's. "Any time a crowd gets together, like on the Fourth of July, we notice that the sales of Jack Daniel's usually go up," says Roger Brashears of the Jack Daniel Distillery. "Everywhere but right here, that is." Of course, since Lynchburg is in a dry county.

So how is the Fourth of July observed in Lynchburg? Well, they have most of the things John Adams prescribed for a proper celebration, and they have something better -- Roger Brashears' patio. "I cook the best pork ribs on my patio every Fourth of July, they'll make your tongue come out and slap your eyebrows," he say s. And does being in a dry county prevent people from imbibing on the Fourth? Not at all. "See, in a dry county, it's only against the law to buy it or sell it," Brashears says. "And the kind of friends I got wouldn't do that anyhow. But they'll sure come drink mine." And what does Brashears serve them? Lynchburg Lemonade, made with the hometown's historical favorite.

Old Glory
• 1 part grenadine
• 1 part vodka
• 1 part blue curacao

Pour ingredients into a narrow, tapered glass, pouring over the back of a spoon to prevent the colors from blending.

Liberty Cocktail
• 1 1/2 oz. apple brandy
• 3/4 oz. light rum
• a dash of sugar syrup (or a pinch of superfine sugar)

Shake with ice and drain into a cocktail glass.

Lynchburg Lemonade
• 1 part Jack Daniel's
• 1 part triple sec
• 1 part sweet & sour cocktail mix
• 4 parts lemon-lime soda

Pour ingredients over ice and garnish with lemon.