Stone Fence , otherwise known as Stone Wall or Sampson, is an early North American drink with roots dating to the colonial era; as Sampson, it is recorded as early as 1750. At its most basic, the drink is made of roughly equal portions of spirits (originally rum, and then whisky) and sweet cider (nonalcoholic) or, preferably, hard cider. Applejack was at times substituted where whisky was in short supply or applejack abundant. The drink was sometimes served hot with sugar and occasionally garnished with a lemon peel or an orange peel adorned with whole cloves. See applejack. Jerry Thomas mentioned the drink in his 1862 bar guide, in which he called for adding “two or three small lumps of ice.” See Thomas, Jeremiah P. “Jerry”. Made in the colonial manner, with hard cider and lots of rum, it is as lethal as the guns at Bunker Hill.
Felten, Eric. “A Rustic Refreshment.” Wall Street Journal, April 21, 2007.
Folsom, George. History of Saco and Biddeford. Saco, ME: 1830.
By: Wayne Curtis