Andrew Jackson Downing, a famous 19th century landscape designer and horticulturist who lived in Newburgh, now has a drink named after him, the first signature drink of the Historical Tavern Trail of the Hudson Valley series, the County announced April 13.
The Apple Jack Downing as the drink is called, is made from ingredients grown in the county and was created by mixologist Donnan Sutherland from Soons Orchard in New Hampton.
Orange County Historian Johanna Yaun said she and a consultant Matthew Kierstead from Milestone Heritage Consulting came up with the concept, but let the mixologist create a recipe that he felt was quintessentially Orange County before naming it.
“He felt like the apple should be the first one that we feature because of all the apple orchards [in Orange County],” Yaun said. “We found some of the articles that Andrew Jackson Downing had written about fruit and fruit trees so … it was a no-brainer.”
She said they had been looking for a way to honor Andrew Jackson Downing for a while as a historical figure who was local to the County.
