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Saint Lawrence is often portrayed with a roasting grate in hand, as in this 1636 oil painting by Francisco de Zubrarán. Some say Lawrence’s unofficial moniker as the Saint of Bar- becue is done in humor because he was allegedly roasted alive, accepting his fate with a jest: “I’m done on this side. Time to turn me over.” Others believe that since Lawrence exemplifies the compassion and actions of the barbecue faithful, literally losing his life for acting on those values, he deserves recognition as the Saint of Barbecue regardless of his manner of death. Although no one is officially recognized as the Patron Saint of Whiskey, Saint Patrick rivals all others for the title. After he escaped from slavery in 5th century Ireland, he returned as a Roman Catholic Bishop, converting many Irish to Roman Catholicism. In the aftermath, 12th century Irish monks, adapting non-alcoholic distillation techniques learned from medieval Arabs, are believed to have invented whisky. Many whiskey-making methods and varied ingredients— the constants being grains, fermentation and distilling— were also developed in other countries, especially Scotland, and later in the southern United States, mostly by immi- grants of European descent. Some southerners became leg- endary for their tax-free “moonshine” from illegal distilleries in rural hideaways. Others established legal, li- censed distilleries, producing whiskey with brands that are known worldwide. One of those brands, Jack Daniel’s, has established a strong foothold in the international barbecue community since initiating the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invita- tional Barbecue 31 years ago in Lynchburg, Tennessee, where all Jack Daniel’s whiskey is made. “The Jack” hap- pens on the 4th Saturday of October; that’s October 26 this year. Here’s my modest proposal, inspired this time of year by The Jack, when barbecue and whiskey are front and center on Planet Earth: Whiskey and barbecue have enjoyed a complementary re- lationship for many years. We have a Saint of Barbecue, so why not have a Saint of Whiskey? And who better to carry that moniker than Saint Patrick himself? Maybe whiskey would have been invented anyway, but the fact is that it was invented in Ireland, thanks to Saint Patrick. Furthermore, the fact that Saint Patrick and Nearis Green aka Uncle Nearest Green were formerly enslaved persons should not go unnoticed. Nearis taught young Jasper New- ton “Jack” Daniel how to make whiskey by way of the “Lin- coln County Process,” which is the method used to this very day in Lynchburg. Saint Patrick should be the Patron Saint of Whiskey. OCTOBER 2019 BarbecueNews.com - 19 -