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From Thomas Jefferson’s French and Italian wines to Roosevelt’s Martini: these have been some of the favourite drinks of US presidents throughout history.
Bill Clinton: Snakebite
Bill Clinton did not go for the classic blonde beers of the industry, but liked to mix them with cider. The so-called snakebite was the cocktail with which the president spent his moments of leisure and relaxation.
The drink has British origins, and some bartenders add a little blackberry liqueur to the mixture to give it an extra touch of sweetness and alcohol. In the USA, a darker variety of stout is usually substituted for the lager and the blackberry part is omitted.
George Washington: Cherry Bounce
Beyond his intense love of Madeira wine, which barrels were shipped from the island to his Virginia home or his Philadelphia residence, George Washington had a favourite drink: the brandy and cherry liqueur called Cherry Bounce. The first US president noted that he even once took a canteen of the drink with him to the Allegheny Mountains in 1784.
John F. Kennedy: Daiquiri o Bloody Mary
It is known that Kennedy liked a good cocktail, what is unknown is whether he preferred the daiquiri or the bloody mary, or loved both equally. The reality is that it depended on the moment and the context in which he found himself.
The story of JFK and the daiquiri goes back to the 1940s, when the drink had its golden age after World War II. But what really captivated him about the drink was First Lady Jackie’s special recipe, in which she added a few drops of Falernum, a sweet liqueur with notes of lime, ginger, cloves, almonds and nutmeg, to the concoction.
The president also often toasted his gatherings with glasses of Bloody Marys, which became famous during the 1950s and 1960s, at the time when Smirnoff launched the recipe alongside its vodka.
Ronald Reagan: Orange Blossom
Ronald Reagan, as former governor of California, made some of the products of his beloved home state nationally known during his tenure in the White House. In particular, Reagan was the first to serve the native Merlot and Zinfandel varieties of wine. As for cocktails, Reagan put the spotlight on a drink based on vodka, vermouth and orange juice: the Orange Blossom.
Franklin D Roosevelt: Gin Martini
Franklin was known for repealing prohibition, and despite having a host of privileges and assistants, he very often made cocktails for his guests himself. The drink with which they paired their talks? Gin martinis on the rocks. In addition, he used to mix it with some olives with a floral lemon to obtain high mixology results.
George H.W. Bush: Vodka Martini
George Bush did not abstain from liquor while he was president. In fact, when he wasn’t drinking Southern Cheerwine, he enjoyed a vodka martini as a good relaxant after a tiring day at the helm of the presidency.