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Andra Watkins

A Bottle of White. A Bottle of Red.

Meriwether Lewis visited Dr. Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia on the eve of his big journey with the Corps of Discovery. He was the team's de facto doctor, and he learned at the feet of Dr. Rush. Dr. Rush was a big fan of a special kind of medicine: purgatives. Things that, when ingested, gave the victim a big ole case of the runs. His favorite purgative was a pill of his own creations. The Thunderclapper. (Just imagine where it got its name.)

Meriwether Lewis visited Dr. Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia on the eve of his big journey with the Corps of Discovery. Lewis was the team’s de facto doctor, and he learned at the feet of Dr. Rush.

Dr. Rush was a big fan of a special kind of medicine: purgatives. Things that, when ingested, gave the victim a big ole case of the runs. His favorite purgative was a pill of his own creation.

The Thunderclapper. (Just imagine where it got its name.)

Dr. Rush believed the Corps of Discovery needed to purge often. He sent hundreds of his poopy pills along with Lewis. At over 50% mercury, it’s a wonder the whole Corps didn’t die of mercury poisoning. They took Thunderclappers. A lot.

In a nod to the Corps of Discovery, I’m toasting my 34-day walk with a Thunderclapper. Mine’s a drink, one I had created just for my novel.

I was really Method about the whole process. I wandered into The Belmont, my favorite Charleston watering hole, and I plonked down at the bar in front of Brad Cline. He listened to my crazy idea for a Thunderclapper: a drink for a dead guy; has to use liquors primarily available in the early 1800s; must burn from start to finish.

Brad rubbed his chin and told me to come back the following Monday.

So.

On a Monday night, this is what I guzzled at least three versions of—Brad Cline’s Thunderclapper Recipe:

thunderclapper drink, andra watkins, to live forever an afterlife journey of meriwether lewis

(I may have had more than three, but this drink packs such a wallop. I really don’t remember much after the first one.)

Whether you choose a Thunderclapper or some other beverage this evening, I hope you’ll raise a glass to my poor feet. I don’t even think a Thunderclapper can numb them for what I’m getting ready to do.

Here’s to Meriwether Lewis. Here’s to the Natchez Trace. And here’s to you, Dear Reader. Thank you for being here.

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82 Comments

  1. I’ll drink to that, SALUD!

    1. Thanks, Carlos. Reporting this evening from Natchez, MS. Dad’s got his sleep apnea machine all set up.

  2. Wow, one of your liquid thunderclappers would put me under the table. No thanks, I’ll stick to a chocolate martini.

  3. I took a sip of it on Monday and though it had that burn, it was actually pretty good. But definitely a sipping drink- its taste said “POW!”

  4. I like rye, benedictine & peychauds, but the other ingredients in this drink– well, not so much.

    Perhaps I could have Sazerac cocktail w/ a splash of benedictine in it to achieve the proper degree of thunderclapperness to honor your grand adventure.

    Cheers to one and all!

  5. Just reading the recipe was enough to give me a buzz …

  6. I am a classic cocktail kind of girl, but not maybe a Southern one? I just don’t understand Tabasco in a beverage that doesn’t involve tomato juice. That said, this is intriguing, and I Pinned it for future reference 🙂

    Safe travels and wonderful adventures to you, my friend. What a thing you’re doing!

    1. I can’t believe I start tomorrow. Miss Ethel is very impressed. She and Dad have been like dueling banjos with stories this evening.

    1. Hope it’s tasty, Robert. Thanks for the plug on your blog. Heading over there in a bit to comment.

  8. I suspect one of those might put me under the table. I’ll bet it burns all the way down. Definitely would cure what ails you. Toasting to you for safe and wonder filled traveled and happy feet!

    1. It packed the right punch, Lisa. I’m glad I tried it to get it right, but it isn’t the kind of drink I like.

  9. I don’t think I could stand up after drinking that!

  10. Here’s to you, Andra. The Irish have a phrase as one leaves for a journey. Since I’m a Greek, married to an Irishman, I’ll take a sip of Ouzo and toast you “safe home”.

  12. I will celebrate your journey this morning with a dounut. This evening? Perhaps something like a Thunderclapper. Blessed be your Journey of Discovery.

    1. I may have a donut in the morning, since I’ll definitely be walking it off.

      1. Ha! I drank mine off. I had three Clunderthappers…Fundersnappers…Happerdunders…Dunderflappers…

        Aw geez. Never mind.

  13. I drink so little alcohol that I KNOW the fumes from that concoction would knock me out! Take heed that Dr. Rush advised in his Rules for preserving good health: “The less spirits you use, the better.” 🙂

    As an aside, I’d venture a guess that the cost for the content of the first aid kit for your trip has well exceeded that $90.69 cost for the entirety of the Lewis and Clark Expedition!!

    Wishing you sunshine, mild temps, minimal flying pests and NO bears! Have a wonderful trek!

    1. It is pretty fragrant, Karen. I’ve probably bought more than $90.69 worth of moleskine. 🙂

  14. I hope to try this with you and the mister someday. The fact you created a drink is 100 proof (seewhatididthere) of your brilliance.

    I’m giving you a standing ovation of thunderclapping

    1. Thanks, Lance. We’ll be in Atlanta toward the end of April. I’ll let you know exactly when.

  15. Cheers to you! I will toast in your honor tonight with a Thunderclapper, or five, of my own.

  16. I’ll toast you this evening, sister, but it’ll be with a Cocobon red blend. Break a leg, John

    1. I had to keep telling Dad that all day. He kept pointing out the miles to go, and I told him it just made the trip longer to do that.

      Thanks for coming the other night. It was good to see you.

  19. Wow, what a great idea for your new signature cocktail. 🙂 I’m not much of a Tabasco fan but would definitely prefer to feel the sensation of hot peppers before instead of mercury thunder after…

  20. I cried while reading your blog today Andra. I love your book. Love, love, love it. I will be “reviewing” it on the sites you suggested. Still…crying. I wish I would have sent you a pin of mine to wear so I could wander this journey with you. Damn but I’m so proud to know you. Your words have always touched me and gosh, I’m just so proud of you. I’ll be drinking some tequila to you tomorrow….No Thunderclapper for Lori – otherwise there might be an ugly accident in Crossfit…not pretty…squats with weights…can you just imagine that sight? Ugh.

    1. You can still send me a pin. I can send you a couple of addresses up the road if you want to do that. Let me know.

      So glad to hear you’re enjoying the book.

  21. That’s a serious drink….by the way, what’s Peychauds? I don’t think a drink’s going to help your feet….in fact the only thing that’s going to help your feet is the week’s stay in a luxury hotel that you’re going to need after you’ve got the Natchez craziness out of your system:)

    1. I’m going to be at the Luxury Hotel of Tori Young outside of Nashville. 🙂 I can’t wait to meet her.

  22. I think I’ll just have a glass of white wine in your honor this evening. Best of luck on your journey. I’ll be thinking of you. Thanks, also for my very favorite Billy Joel song! Love ya

  23. I am so excited for your journey to begin! Please know that I will be hovering around you in spirit each and every day! I will raise a glass of wine to you this evening. Skol! (cheers and good health) 🙂

  24. To have a bartender that invents a drink especially for you blows my mind. On any given Saturday I order what the barkeep remembers how to make, but it’s lovingly garnished with a “here ya go, hon.”

  26. YIKES! That’s harsh! Think I’ll pass, darling. I had a Prairie Fire once… I think it’s just tequila and hot sauce — and once was enough for me.

    1. I was surprised at how many people liked it the other night at my going away thing. It’s not for me, though.

  27. I did indeed have one of those the other night at the Belmont. Not bad at all. If I weren’t such a cheapskate I would have had more than one. But it was no where near as harsh as some might think – at least not to me. But then my drinks of preference have raised a few eyebrows in the past as well.

    Now I have to think of what cigar I would pair up with this drink. But I will probably have to imbibe a few more to figure that out. I do know it would be something strong and dark though. Strong enough that you could smell it coming down The Trace to meet you.

    1. I do NOT want to smell cigars on my walk, Carnell. DO. NOT. What a creepy thing that would be.

  29. That sounds like a helluva beverage! In honor of you I will carefully tuck that recipe into my wallet and pull it out when I’m at Marche, the only restaurant that would possibly have all the ingredients, and when I get out of the pokey I’ll let you know how it tastes.
    I’m getting so excited about your walk! I’ve told everyone I work with what you’re doing and they all say ‘Good luck!’

    1. Thanks, Laura. Please thank your co-workers for me. And let me know how the drink turns out. 🙂

  31. Isn’t thunderclapping when your thighs rub together? Not a problem that you have, I’m certain. I should have mailed you some of my prednisone to take when those feet start acting up. Or better yet, a cortisone shot! Damn! I wish I had thought of it earlier. 🙂

  32. and you are a brave spirit. here’s to you with a clap of hands, and i’ll leave the thunderclapping to you ) b

  33. I will be toasting you at dinner tonight. Mr. Enthusiasm informs me it is nearly ready to be served.

    You have my deepest respect for this huge challenge you have taken on. I look forward to hearing about all you learn along the way.
    xoxo

    1. I hope dinner was tasty, Nancy. It still doesn’t feel real. This time tomorrow, I’m sure I’ll feel differently. 🙂

      1. Be well. Stay safe. Learn lots. Have fun. In no particular order. <3

  34. May the trace rise up to greet you
    And the wind be always at your back!

  37. You are so AWESOME. I love everything about this act and this post. Somebody call Dav Pilkey — the Thunderclapper would be right up his alley.

  38. One of my favorite Billy Joel’s. I listen to it often…and now I’ll associate it with you. Thunderclapper, huh? What a great new drink. I am definitely lifting a glass to you as you take off on your grand adventure. No purgatives! ox

  39. Dear Andra –

    I would get blotto in honor of your feet and your heroic trek on the Natchez Trace but I have been a naughty reader and need to catch up on my reading. Your novel calls to me from my kindle app at all hours, begging to be read. It’s that good and I will seriously shiv the next person who gets in the way of my reading. I might have a shot though.

  40. It’s one of my dreams to have a named cocktail made just for me by an expert — and the Thunderclapper definitely reads like something that should be on a permanent menu. I’ve got a bottle of rye whiskey that is just asking to be broken open and now I need to stop at the liquor store on my way home to try and find the rest of these ingredients so that I can properly toast your amazing accomplishments to come over the next weeks!

    1. It helps to have access to some good mixoligists…I’m better at the tasting part.

  42. Rye Whisky…i don’t know if that’s available over here.

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