Americans have been mixing alcohol and politics since before George Washington won a seat in the Virginia Assembly by providing liquor to voters at polling places. In more recent history, D.C. bars and restaurants have mixed political cocktails to signify drinkers’ political leanings. While past political cocktails were merely blue- and red-colored potables representing the two-party system, this year’s themed cocktails are looking more likeable than the candidates they represent.
Rye Bar at the Rosewood Hotel (1050 31st Street, NW), for example, has upped the ante with cocktails sporting bold hues from natural ingredients. The Republican drink, Thyme To Decide, is a Hendrick’s gin coup drink that manager Diego Zeballos says gets its “deep reddish color from blackberries.” It’s very floral with a little St. Germain elderflower liqueur, cucumber notes from the gin, and a thyme sprig garnish. “This is a classic gin cocktail that’s for older drinkers,” says Zeballos, referencing the demographic that traditionally comprised the base of the Republican Party.
The Democrats’ drink, Pacific Blue, is naturally colored with blueberries muddled in mint. This is added to Tito’s vodka, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice, topped with soda and garnished with lemon twist and blueberries. “We decided to go with vodka for the younger generation that came up after gin,” says Zeballos.
Rye Bar’s third party drink, The Green Card, is a bold and herbal Del Maguey “Vida” mezcal cocktail with plenty of spicy herbal flavor. Muddled basil gives it a bright green glow, and honey, ginger syrup, and lime juice turn it into a sweet Mexican-themed rocks sipper. Zeballos, who is Hispanic, was at first anxious about giving the edgy name to a mezcal drink representing Mexican immigrants, but he says the name itself is responsible for it being the most requested cocktail of the three.
At 701 Restaurant (701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW) bartender Max Hill serves cocktails he thinks would appeal to the candidates themselves. For Donald Trump, there’s Make America Grape Again. It’s non-alcoholic grape muscat mocktail because Trump does not drink. With his spiced sorghum syrup of black pepper, mace, ginger, and clove, topped with soda and a black moondrop grape garnish, Hill says, “it tastes like a child’s candy.” He’s just as open with his political leanings by naming Hillary Clinton’s drink “I’m With Her”. “It’s south meets the north,” says Hill, referring to Leopold’s peach liqueur and whiskey as the southern influence and an apple shrub rum, “an inherently New England drink,” for the north.
Max Hill is also the creator of political cocktails at Oval Room (800 Connecticut Avenue NW). Build That Wall has a fence of grapes garnishing a grape muscat, spiced syrup and champagne vinegar mocktail for Trump. His Madame President is a champagne cocktail with Cynar artichoke amaro, lemon juice, apricot brandy and a gob of Angostura rum.
Political cocktails have reached the zenith of cynicism at Bastille (606 N Fayette St, Alexandria, VA). “No matter what we did, we would end up offending someone,” says bartender Casey Chapman. “So to keep it fair we went with what [candidates] called each other.” He refers to #Crooked, a smoky scotch cocktail with house lemon cordial, allspice liqueur, and cherry liqueur that demonstrates that “Hillary has been working in a man’s world for a long time.” Trump’s cocktail, Deluded Little Manhattan, hilariously comes served in an enormous goblet that makes your hands look small when you hold it, and it’s topped with an orange peel “toupee.”
There’s third party candidates as well: Gary Johnson’s Libertarian cocktail, Live Free or Die Johnson, is a tequila and blackberry cordial Moscow Mule to represent his terms as governor of New Mexico, and Paging Dr. Stein is a white whiskey and quince wine drink resembling a Cosmopolitan. Don’t see anything you like? Choose I Vote Canada (Flee the country vote!). It’s a spiced Old Fashioned variant with Canada’s Crown Royal whiskey, lime juice, and Allspice liqueur.
Stanton & Greene (319 Pennsylvania Avenue SE) is serving four special cocktails during the debates. Greatness, the Republican cocktail, is made with scotch, red bell pepper, Aperol, and bitters. Their Democrat drink is Progress: vodka, blueberries, limoncello, vanilla, and greek yogurt come together for a creamy treat on the rocks. They also have a Libertarian Vodka Tonic with turmeric and dried grapefruit called Liberty, and a Green Party tequila drink with mint, lime and pistachio syrup. During debate nights, they invite guests to sit in the red or blue corner to watch Fox News or MSNBC, respectively, and play debate bingo for a $50 dollar gift certificate
Bourbon Steak (2800 Pennsylvania Avenue NW), meanwhile, is holding their own election with cocktails favored by four former presidents. These historical and diverse cocktails, curated by bartender Torrence Swain, represent the drinking habits of each president’s time more than a stereotype of their political party.
James Buchanan’s cocktail is a Sherry Flip with brandy, muddled berries, ginger, lemon juice, and bitters; Harry Truman’s drink, “Give E’m Hell Harry,” is a bourbon cocktail with Lustau cream sherry and a house-made spice tincture. For the Republicans, Herbert Hoover’s choice is an Absolut Elyx Dirty Martini with truffle brine and truffle pecorino olives. And Eisenhower’s pick is the Wizbanger with scotch, grenadine, dry vermouth, absinthe, and orange bitters. Each $25-dollar drink includes a five-dollar donation to the nonpartisan political non-profit, Rock The Vote.
The Wasted Vote
If you are considering voting third-party, there’s “The Wasted Vote.” It’s green and has the all-American taste of a Mint Julep.
• 2 oz. bourbon
• 1 oz. crème de menthe
• 5 mint leaves
• mint sprig
Muddle mint leaves in a shaker before adding liquors. Shake and fine strain into an Old Fashioned glass with fresh ice. Garnish with a mint sprig.
