(Photo via Kate Shapiro)
If you're the President, you may feel the weight of the nation and the world on your shoulders. But that doesn't mean that you can't pour yourself a tasty alcoholic beverage and rest a bit.
Most Presidents of the United States drank alcohol. What drinks did they like? In his book Mint Juleps and with Teddy Roosevelt: A Complete History of Presidential Drinking, Mark Will-Weber describes what Presidents have knocked back. He wrote a summary for the New York Post. Here are a few selections:
George Washington
Washington sold whiskey (made near Mount Vernon), but he probably rarely, if ever, drank it. The formula was about 60% rye, 3% corn and a very meager amount of malted barley. As for his favorite drink — he loved dark porter (laced with molasses) that was made in Philadelphia. […]Thomas Jefferson
Jefferson’s huge wine purchases helped bring him to the brink of financial ruin. […]Andrew Jackson
When he wasn’t fighting Indians or the British, the Hero of New Orleans made and sold whiskey. He offered and drank whiskey as a matter of social routine when guests visited him. […]Chester A. Arthur
When a representative of the Temperance movement tried to pressure Arthur into a no-liquor policy in the White House, he thundered: “Madam, I may be the president of the United States, but what I do with my private life is my own damned business!” […]Grover Cleveland
Grover mostly drank beer, and lots of it. He and a fellow politician once took a vow to hold themselves to four beers a day. When they found this too arduous a task, they simply switched to larger beer steins. […]Teddy Roosevelt
Teddy liked Mint Juleps and used them to entice his cabinet to come play tennis with him at the White House. He used fresh mint from the White House garden:10 to 12 fresh mint leaves “muddled” with a splash of water and a sugar cube
2 or 3 oz. of rye whiskey
¼ oz. of brandy
Sprig or two of fresh mint as a garnish […]Warren G. Harding
Even though Harding was president during Prohibition — and it was unlawful to transport liquor — he habitually stashed a bottle of whiskey in his golf bag and thought nothing of taking a pop before he teed up. (He rarely broke 100, so that might explain it.)Calvin Coolidge
“Silent Cal” drank very little, but he was very fond of Tokay wine. The Coolidge Cooler was concocted by Vermont Spirits on Cal’s birthday:1.5 oz. of Vermont White vodka
½ oz. of American whiskey
2 oz. of orange juice
Club soda
-via Ace of Spades HQ