Did you know that maple syrup inspired the first commercial natural gas well drilled in the world? [Note: While some point to the Fredonia, NY gas well of the 1820s as the “first commercial natural gas well,” it was actually dug by hand—not drilled. Moreover, the Fredonia well did not produce gas at the scale, volume, or pressure necessary for long-distance transport.]
Did you know that the Haymaker brothers who drilled the well were in search of oil, not gas?
Did you know that there are two cocktails inspired by natural gas that can serve as refreshing reminders of how you can be a more effective leader?
Did you know that attendees of the Women’s Energy Network Shale Insight Happy Hour had an opportunity to not only enjoy those two cocktails for free, but to also bring home bottles of maple syrup produced in Murrysville, PA—home of the Haymaker well?
Learn all about the connection between maple syrup, natural gas, and energy leadership by checking out The Energy Detox on YouTube, your favorite podcast app, or right here at MarcellusCocktails.com.
Then keep on scrolling for the ingredients and instructions you can use to mix up a “Catalyst Cocktail” and a “Maple Bourbon Haymaker.”
“I again saw Josh Cooper and his pot of maple syrup on Turtle Creek, using free gas for his fire. The dream grew and I saw a whole nation, the world, cooking on stoves supplied by pipes coming out of the walls in kitchens; housing and buildings, theaters, and factories lighted by gas lamps suspended from ceilings; city lights brightening streets after nightfall.”
— Michael Haymaker, who—along with his brother Obediah—drilled the world's first commercial natural gas well in 1878 in Murrysville, PA
Similar to a French 75, The Catalyst swaps out simple syrup for maple syrup and introduces a small amount of Fireball Whisky. The maple syrup is a nod to the role that maple syrup played in the drilling of the first commercial gas well in Murrysville, PA in 1878. And the Fireball is a nod to the heat that the burning of natural gas generates…especially the heat emanating from the 100 foot flame that burned for 18 months when the Haymaker well was flowing 30 MMcf/d before it was eventually brought under control and piped to Pittsburgh. The Prosecco’s bubbles provide a visual reminder of the magical gas that lies below much of Pennsylvania.
The drink’s name is derived from a 2022 SHALE INSIGHT® presentation by Nick Deiuliis, CEO of CNX Resources. In his presentation, The Awakening of Shale 3.0: Natural Gas as a Catalyst Fuel, Not a Bridge Fuel, Nick asserts that natural gas is a “catalyst fuel,” not a “bridge fuel.”
That being said, you do not want to be known as a “bridge leader” who merely passes information, requests, priorities, and decisions back-and-forth between your management and your team. Rather, you want to be known as a “catalyst leader” who is viewed as a source of differentiated thinking and actions that yield transformative results—just as natural gas has catalyzed so much of our modern existence. That being said, this drink prompts the following question: “Am I a ‘bridge’ leader or a ‘catalyst’ leader?”
Ingredients:
1.5 oz. gin
0.5 oz. maple syrup
0.5 oz. fresh lemon juice
0.25 oz. Fireball Whisky
3 oz. prosecco
ice
Instructions:
In a shaker, combine ice, gin, lemon juice, maple syrup, and Fireball Whisky
Shake well
Strain mixture into champagne flute or a similar tall, slender glass
Gently top with prosecco
Garnish with a twisted lemon peel
Maple Bourbon Haymaker
A close relative of the old-fashioned, the Maple Bourbon Haymaker doesn’t just pay homage to the Haymaker well, but also to the men and women of the natural gas industry who work in the field. How so? Well, “Haymaker’s Punch”—also known as switchel—is a non-alcoholic drink enjoyed by New England farmers starting in the 1600s. Think of it as an early version of Gatorade that kept field workers hydrated. Haymaker’s Punch was typically made with water, apple cider vinegar, ginger, and a sweetener (molasses or maple syrup).
As the name suggests, the Maple Bourbon Haymaker uses maple syrup—to honor the connection between maple syrup and the Haymaker well—and bourbon. Crown Royal Regal Apple replaces the apple cider vinegar found in Haymaker’s Punch; and bitters are added, giving the drink more of an old-fashioned feel.
The garnishes are also significant, with a cinnamon stick reminding drinkers of the Haymaker wellbore; and a cherry (ideally on a skewer) honoring Obediah Haymaker, who was stabbed and shot to death by a mob disputing the sale of the well that he and his brother Michael drilled.
Notes: if you want to honor the oldest commercial natural gas well, swap out the Crown Royal Regal Apple with Laird’s Applejack, which is produced by America’s Oldest Distiller; and for your bourbon, go with Buffalo Trace, which is produced by the oldest continuously operating distillery in America. Using both Laird’s and Buffalo trace—and their nuanced “oldest distillery” distinctions—is also a great way to acknowledge the nuanced distinctions between the “oldest commercial natural gas wells” found in Fredonia, NY and Murrysville, PA (and elsewhere).
Considering the harm that can emerge when disconnects occur between office-based and field-based employees (especially when field folks are dropped into an office setting without adequate preparation for the culture, politics, and expectations they now face), this drink prompts the following question:
“What harm are the gaps between office and field causing?”
Ingredients:
2 oz. Buffalo Trace (or a bourbon of your choosing)
0.5 oz. Laird’s Applejack (or Crown Royal Regal Apple)
0.5 oz. maple syrup
2 dashes of bitters
ice
Instructions:
In a shaker, combine ice, bourbon, Applejack (or Crown Royal Apple), maple syrup, and bitters
Shake well
Strain mixture into rocks glass filled with ice
Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a single cherry (on a skewer)
Additional Links from Joe Sinnott
“Maple Syrup & Natural Gas” (by Roseum Maple Syrup of Murrysville, PA)
“Haymaker: The Origin of Big Natural Gas” (“Scarce Whales” blog by Morgan Downey)
“Kenneth J. Broadbent, David Callahan and Jim Snell: Pa. natural gas and labor, forging a reliable, sustainable energy future” (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, September 4, 2022)
“What's That: Murrysville marks site of natural gas discovery” (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, April 5, 2022)
* “Murrysville's gas well site denied historic status” (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, July 14, 2012 - This article covers the dispute over whether the Haymaker well is indeed the first commercial natural gas well in the world)
Everyday your story is being told by someone. Who is telling your story? Who are you telling your story to?
Email your sustainable story ideas, professional press releases or petro-powered podcast submissions to thecontentcreationstudios(AT)gmail(DOT)com.
#thecrudelife promotes a culture of inclusion and respect through interviews, content creation, live events and partnerships that educate, enrich, and empower people to create a positive social environment for all, regardless of age, race, religion, sexual orientation, or physical or intellectual ability.
CLICK HERE FOR SPECIAL PARAMOUNT + DISCOUNT LINK
Paramount+ offers its subscribers a plethora of quality content.
From classic films to banger TV shows like 1883 and Star Trek: Discovery, there’s no shortage of entertainment to explore.
How about some cult favorites like Red Dawn, Grease and There Will Be Blood?
Start Streaming Today!
CLICK HERE FOR SPECIAL PARAMOUNT + DISCOUNT LINK
Share this post