"The Real McCoy"? | Smartest Year Ever (Jan 12, 2025)

In this episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy dives into the fascinating origins of the phrase “The Real McCoy”—a saying synonymous with authenticity and originality. Was it inspired by Elijah McCoy, the ingenious Black inventor whose patents revolutionized industry? Or was it Prohibition-era rum-runner Bill McCoy, famous for smuggling pure liquor? Maybe it even traces back to 19th-century Scotland with “The Real MacKay,” a nod to high-quality whiskey. Discover how this phrase blends fact, folklore, and marketing magic to cement its place in our language.

Contents:

• Who was Elijah McCoy, and how did his inventions shape history?

• The Prohibition smuggler who kept booze real.

• A Scottish toast that may have started it all.

Sources:Hill, A. G. (2008). The Inventive Life of Elijah McCoy.Standage, T. (2005). A History of the World in Six Glasses.Langer, M. (2017). “Rum-Running and the Legacy of Bill McCoy.” Smithsonian Magazine.Maclean, C. (2009). Whiskey: The Definitive World Guide.Bond, J. S. (1881). The Rise and Fall of the 'Union Club'; Or, Boy Life in Canada.Stevenson, R. L. (1883). Letters.

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