No. 4 James Madison – Champagne
Our nation's fourth president had to watch the capital city and his temporary home burn to the ground on August 24, 1814, as British forces advanced on Washington. It was a blow to the young democracy and to Madison's ego but he and the country soon recovered. Madison was a scholarly, socially awkward man with a love for fine Champagne and books rather than lavish parties and political shouting matches. While the Champagne cocktail wasn't a thing yet, we feel this learned president would be fine doctoring up his Champs with a sugar cube soaked in bitters. Head to Bread & Butterfly where oenophiles will find a grande list of French Champagne and sparkling wines to sip. You'd do well to order the off-menu Champagne cocktail here to celebrate or mourn your candidate winning or losing.
Bread & Butterfly, 290 Elizabeth St. NE, Atlanta. 678-515-4536, bread-and-butterfly.com.
No. 26 Teddy Roosevelt – mint julep
Bully for us Southerners because our 26th president, Teddy Roosevelt, loved mint juleps. He loved them so much he used the frosty whiskey concoction to lure cabinet members to the tennis court, playing hooky with mid-afternoon volleys. While we love whiskey and the traditional julep, we suggest sipping on the Bastille at Kimball House's new weekend cocktail joint Bonanza . Only open on Friday and Saturdays, this speakeasy-like room serves up its own list of tipples and feels like an exclusive members-only club where President Roosevelt himself might have frequented to regale his audience with tales of his Rough Rider days. Nothing spells freedom from the oppressive Atlanta heat like sucking down a Bastille: a bitter lover's julep with cognac, pineapple, lemon, fresh catmint and absinthe and Suze liqueur to bump up the booze factor.
Kimball House, 303 East Howard Ave., Decatur. 404-378-3502, kimball-house.com.
No. 33 Harry Truman – Old-Fashioned
Harry Truman was a president after our own heart. Described as an “everyman,” our 33rd commander-in-chief was a big bourbon fan who loved sipping on 100-proof Old Grand-Dad each morning “to get the engine running” before he headed off to work. After the day was done, however, he and his wife, Bess, would sit down for an Old-Fashioned before dinner to catch up. A formidable team, the Truman’s liked their OFs strong, without much sugar and absolutely no fruit.
Credit: Beth McKibben
Credit: Beth McKibben
Pinewood Tippling Room, 254 West Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur. 404-373-5507, pinewoodtr.com.
No. 40 Ronald Reagan - orange blossom
St. Regis Bar, 88 West Paces Ferry Road NW, Atlanta. stregisatlanta.com/the-st-regis-bar
No. 42 Bill Clinton - snakebite
The Manchester Arms, 1705 Virginia Ave., Atlanta. 404-763-9980, themanchesterarms.com.
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