2800 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Head bartender Torrence Swain is channeling past presidents for this year’s presidential cocktails. At Bourbon Steak, he’s serving four politically-fueled cocktails, including the Give Em Hell, Harry (bourbon, Lustau cream sherry and house-spiced tincture), Sherry Cobbler (Lustau sherry, brandy, muddled berries, lemon juice, ginger and bitters), The Chief (a dry martini with white truffles, Absolut Elyx vodka and house-made truffle brine, stirred and served up with a truffle pecorino olive) and the Wizbanger (scotch, grenadine, absinthe, dry vermouth, orange bitters and a twist). (Photo courtesy Bourbon Steak)
Photo courtesy Bourbon Steak
1833 14th St. NW Through the election, Bar Pilar will offer four modern versions of previous campaign-inspired cocktails, including The Harrison Cocktail, The Taft Re-Elected, Guantánamo and Split the Party. The 14th Street bar and restaurant will release a video with The Weekly Standard that dives into the history for each cocktail. (Photo courtesy Bourbon Steak)
701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Patrons can choose from two libations at this upscale D.C. restaurant, including the Make America Great Again (Moon Drop grape purée, spiced sorghum syrup and sherry vinegar, topped with soda and garnished with three grapes on the rim) and the I’m With Her (George Dickel Rye whiskey, Flor de Caña 4-year-old rum, Rocky Mountain peach liqueur and apple cider vinegar, garnished with a peach wedge). (Courtesy 701)
Courtesy 701
Which Presidential Cocktail will you be having tonight? The Best Word or Unfinished Business? #Debates2016 #DebateNight #PresidentialDebate pic.twitter.com/W2EdxSIumv
— Bar Dupont (@BarDupont) October 9, 2016
1500 New Hampshire Ave. NW Not only does Bar Dupont offer nightly room specials and packages throughout election season, the Doyle Collection hotel also shakes up some serious election-themed cocktails, including The Best Word (Trump) and Unfinished Business (Hillary). (Courtesy 701)
606 N. Fayette St., Alexandria, Virginia
This Old Town French restaurant is offering four cocktails for the election, including The Crooked (Hillary) and The Deluded Little Manhattan (Donald). For Libertarians, bartenders are shaking up the Live Free or Die Johnson, and for the Green Party, The Paging Dr. Stein. (Courtesy Bastille)
Courtesy Bastille
1110 Vermont Ave. NW
This establishment is named after a former president, so naturally, it’s a place where you can cheer on the next president, one cocktail at a time. Hillary’s Inbox includes Absolut Elyx vodka, Drambuie, Blue Curacao, Orgeat syrup, lime juice and soda; Trump Tower is made from Earl Grey-infused Absolut Elyx vodka, Aperol and Dolin Blanc vermouth. (Courtesy Bastille)
800 Connecticut Ave. NW
During election season, The Oval Room will pour two cocktails, including Build That Wall (muscat grape purée, spiced honey syrup, Champagne vinegar, topped with soda and garnished with three grapes) and Madam President (Cynar, lemon juice, Giffard Abricot, Angostura Rum and sparkling wine, topped with an orange twist). (Courtesy The Oval Room)
Courtesy The Oval Room
800 16th St. NW On the record, Off The Record is the place to go for election-themed fun. Signature cocktails include Hillary’s Last Word (Bombay Sapphire, lime juice, green chartreuse, Luxardo Maraschino and grenadine, garnished with a maraschino cherry and lime zest) and the Trumpy Sour (Knob Creek bourbon whiskey, whiskey barrel-aged bitters, lemon and honey, garnished with a sprig of thyme and a dehydrated lemon slice). There are also drinks dedicated to the vice presidential nominees. (Courtesy Off The Record)
Courtesy Off The Record
1250 9th St. NW Usually, it’s all about mezcal at this Shaw establishment, but during election season, it’s all about the candidates. Look out for The Apprentice (mezcal, Campari, orange juice and soda, served on the rocks) and Madam Presidenta (mezcal, Blue Curaçao, El Dorado 8-year rum, lime and Orgeat syrup). (Courtesy Espita Mezcaleria)
Courtesy Espita Mezcaleria
425 I St. NW Through Nov. 8, catch a sip of the The Pantsuit (vodka, lime juice and house-made fresh peppermint shrub, topped with sparkling wine) and The Side Sweep (made with gin, fresh muddle basil, strawberry, raspberry, lime-honey water and blue raki). (Courtesy Ottoman Taverna)
Courtesy Ottoman Taverna
WASHINGTON — Between the scandals, the he-said she-said and the never-ending attacks, it’s safe to say that those paying attention to this year’s presidential race are in need of a cocktail — and a strong one at that.
Thankfully, a handful of bars around D.C. are conjuring up festive concoctions to take the edge off the 2016 election. Here are a few to sip on around town.
