Presidential Cocktails For Election Night

W Hotels “All The President’s Cocktails” Fun Coloring Book and Presidential Cocktails Recipes

*While this post was written during the 2016 election, and some of the players have changed, one thing is still certain… we need cocktails. If we thought we needed drinks then, we definitely need them even more in 2020! Let us drink to our democracy with these Presidential cocktails from W Hotels. 

After this crazy election season, one thing is certain, I bet you could use a drink about now. Regardless of which political party you favor, or even which country you live in, we can all agree that the U.S. presidential elections have put everyone on edge.

To ease our collective anxiety, celebrate (and/or commiserate), W Hotels created an adult coloring book depicting the drinking habits of notable U. S. Presidents. “ALL THE PRESIDENT’S COCKTAILS” features 12 pages of our past leaders in unexpected settings, with corresponding tales of their drinking habits and favorite cocktails. Each page includes an illustration to color and a cocktail recipe to mix.

Whether you color within the lines or not, I got the Presidential Cocktails recipes to share with you.

The drawings, created by Brooklyn-based artist Lindsay Mound are a bit cheeky and fun. She took a few liberties and made embellishments, like depicting George Washington as the ultimate hipster in a small batch whiskey distillery. After this crazy and apocalyptic election season, I’m sure we could all use a bit of levity. Thomas Jefferson as a brunch fanatic sipping wine spritzers and FDR as a tattooed bartender are some of my favorites.

Regardless who wins, you can bet there will be lots of drinking on November 8th. And, in following the food holiday tradition, I declare November 9th should be called “National Hangover Day.”

If there is one occupation that deserves a nice (and sometimes stiff) cocktail, “Commander in Chief” is probably at the top of the list. This time around, the voting public has been reaching for the liquor cabinet as well. Drinking games seemed de rigueur to get through the debates.

Here are the perfect Presidential cocktails recipes to serve at your Election Night viewing party:

George Washington’s Whiskey Old Fashioned

Like the cool kids in Brooklyn, Portland or Seattle today, Washington was an on-trend whiskey man. He even distilled and bottled his own private-label at his ancestral home of Mount Vernon!

Try this modern take on an “Old Fashioned”…

1. 2oz Redemption Rye

1. 0.5 oz Benedictine liqueur

1. 2 dashes The Bitter

1. Truth Lemon Bitters

– Stirred over ice strained and served in a rocks glass with one Kold Draft cube.
– Garnish with a lemon twist.

John Adams’ Madeira Port Sangria

Adams was every bartender’s best friend with a drink constantly in his hand – cider in the morning, wine with lunch and Madeira port every evening. He sounds like a fun guy to me.

Enjoy this update of “sangaree” – a sangria with port to celebrate Boston’s own…

1. 0.5 cup sugar

1. 0.25 cup water

1. 3 (750 ml) bottles of red wine

1. 0.5 (750 ml.) bottle ruby port

1. 2 oranges, sliced into wheels

1. 2 limes, sliced into wheels

1. 1 pineapple, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

– Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer to dissolve the sugar, making a concentrated simple syrup.
– Combine the syrup, red wine, port, orange and lime slices and pineapple cubes in a large glass, ceramic or stainless-steel container.
– Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Andrew Jackson’s Whiskey Sour

Poor Andrew Jackson – after serving face on the 20-dollar bill for decades, in this drawing he laments over his replacement – with a whiskey sour (naturally).

This Whiskey Sour recipe is nothing to be sad about…

1. 1.5 oz rye whiskey

1. 1 oz lemon juice

1. 0.75 oz maple syrup

– Shake all ingredients and pour into a rocks glass.
– Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Abraham Lincoln’s Cucumber Stiletto Mocktail

Honest Abe was basically “sober Abe”! So, for the designated driver and the ones who just simply want to chill and relax, cool down with this honestly refreshing non-alcoholic treat… (you can always add vodka or rum if you choose to go the other way!)

1. 0.5 oz fresh lime juice

1. 0.5 oz simple syrup

1. 2 sprigs fresh mint

1. 2-3 thin cucumber slices

1. Soda Water

– Place the mint, cucumber, lime juice and simple syrup and a splash soda water in cocktail shaker with ice – muddle together and shake.
– Strain over ice and top with soda water.

Rutherford B. Hayes’ Rum Lemonade Punch

Hayes’ wife – referred to as “Lemonade Lucy” – was a staunch prohibitionist. So Hayes would stash rum around the house to spike her punches at White House parties.

Try this rum-soaked punch at your next party…

1. 25oz Papa’s Pilar Blonde Rum

1. 10oz pineapple juice

1. 8oz passion fruit juice

1. 8oz cold brewed green tea

1. 8oz ginger syrup

1. 8oz lemon juice

1. 10 dash Angostura bitters

1. 5 dash vanilla

1. Lemon slices for garnish

– Mix all ingredients in pitcher or bowl until combined.
– Garnish a tall glass with one lemon slice; fill glass with ice.
– Pour punch over ice and serve.

Teddy Roosevelt’s Mint Julep

Roosevelt was a champion of so many things – the outdoors above all, where his efforts to create the National Parks resulted in a namesake stuffed toy. Although he only drank occasionally, the drawing shows Teddy and his teddy bear pal at the races enjoying an iconic outdoor cooler – the mint julep.

1. 2oz rye whiskey

1. 10 – 12 fresh peppermint leaves

1. 0.25 oz brandy

1. 0.5 oz simple syrup

– Muddle peppermint into the syrup.
– Add rye and brandy and ice and stir until cold and well diluted.
– Serve 
in a pewter cup with crushed ice.
– Garnish with a mint sprig and dust with powdered sugar.

FDR’s Gin Martini

Seen with his sleeves rolled up, revealing tattoos, shaking a martini behind a bar, America’s most prolific President was also a prolific lover of martinis – known to shake a stiff drink for White House guests himself.

Here’s W Hotel’s recipe for the perfect dry martini…

1. 2.5 oz gin

1. 0.5 oz gewurztraminer

1. Two dashes bitter truth Grapefruit bitters

– Stir over ice in a mixing glass.
– Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a grapefruit twist.

Thomas Jefferson’s Wine Spritzer

Thomas Jefferson was like the Carrie Bradshaw of the American Revolution. The thinker, the writer of the Declaration of Independence and quintessential humanist of his generation – always counseling friends like James Monroe about what’s what. Here he enjoys the perfect summer spritz with his pals over brunch on the Potomac.

Chill with this simple classic…

1. 5oz white wine
 (Sauvignon Blanc, or Pinot Grigio)

1. Lime flavored Mineral Water

– Serve over ice in a wine glass topped with topo Chico lime flavored mineral water.
– Garnish with a lime wheel.

William McKinley’s McKinley’s Delight

McKinley was so cool, he had his own cocktail named after him. In the book he’s seen floating in a giant cocktail with patriotic swim trunks.

Try your hand at the McKinley’s Delight…

1. 2 oz straight rye whiskey

1. 1 oz Italian red vermouth

1. 1 tsp cherry liqueur

1. 1 dash Absinthe

– Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass and fill with ice.
– Stir, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
– Cut a thin swatch of lemon peel, twist over the drink and discard.

JFK Daiquiri

Cocktail culture in the 60’s was quite elaborate and JFK ironically favored the Cuban-born tropical favorite, the daiquiri. JFK is seen lounging on a sailboat.

You can pretend to set sail for the tropics with this amped up daiquiri…

1. 2oz Cana brava rum

1. 0.75 lime juice

1. 0.5 royal combier

1. 0.5 simple syrup

– Shake all ingredients over ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
– Garnish with a lime wheel.

These Presidential Cocktails recipes were provided courtesy of W Hotels, created by Dustin Courtright of W Austin, Laura Bellucci
of W New Orleans – French Quarter, and Amanda Barton
of W Los Angeles – West Beverly Hills.

W Hotels

“All The President’s Cocktails” coloring book was available exclusively to guests who book the EWOW Suite, the brand’s take on the Presidential Suite, at any of the 24 W Hotels throughout the United States until Election Day. I bet a stay at W Hotels and one of these Presidential Cocktails will cure any post-election stress.

With innovative, inspiring and infectious super-charged energy, W Hotels celebrates guests’ endless appetite to discover what’s new/next in each destination, to see more, feel more, go longer, stay later. The trailblazing hotel brand has defied expectations and broken the norms of traditional luxury with their mission to fuel guests’ lust for life. They sound like a perfect match for the Go Epicurista mission to #MakeSomedayHappen and so I am looking forward to staying at W Hotels on my next trip to New York City and anywhere around the world. For more information on W Hotels click here.

Which Presidential Cocktail Recipe will you choose to share with friends on election night?

Whatever the outcome of our election, I propose a toast to our American democracy and our freedom of choice in all we do.

May we continue to cherish life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Cheers!

Go Epicurista

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