Suburban bars mix election-themed cocktails
Hillary or Donald? You cast your vote on Tuesday. But you can also send up the political process — or toast the end of nasty campaign ads — with themed cocktails and election-night specials at some suburban bars.
Tuscany Restaurants, with locations in Wheeling and Oak Brook, are serving a pair of $5 martinis named for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump and colored to match their blue state/red state party affiliations. The Hillary blends cranberry juice, Ketel Citron, blue Curacao and a squeeze of fresh lime juice, while The Donald combines Ketel One, butterscotch and apple schnapps and cranberry juice. Both will be served from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Election Day.
“They were tested and the flavors are good,” said general manager Frank D'Angelo. “We're kind of designing them so they'll fit the colors. I can make some quip about the ingredients, but we're nonpartisan. We're going red states, blue states.”
You can order the drinks anywhere in the restaurant, though you'll have to be in the bar area to watch the election returns. As an added bonus, the restaurants also offer $3 small plates on Tuesdays.
“If people want to come in after they vote they can have a couple stiff ones,” D'Angelo said. “They'll deserve it after this election. We all will.”
Designated drivers, of course, should enjoy party-neutral soft drinks.
All of Ala Carte Entertainment's suburban venues, which include Sweet Caroline's Crab-N-Que, Drink, Moretti's and The Snuggery, have been serving their own versions of The Donald and The Hillary since October. The idea came from Ala Carte beverage director Denise Blue, who was trying to brainstorm cocktails to highlight Effen Vodka's new blood orange and green apple flavors.
“Everybody was all jazzed up about the debates and talking about all the nonsense,” she said. “My husband walked through the room and said 'I've had enough of these ... candidates.'”
The temptation to create candidate-themed cocktails was too good for Blue to pass up, especially when she saw Bill Maher call Trump “the tangerine dream” on Twitter. “Everyone was making fun of his tan,” Blue said. She decided to use the blood orange vodka for The Trump while also poking fun at Hillary's image by using apple vodka for her drink, which reminded Blue of The Wicked Witch. Both spirits are blended with white cranberry juice, fresh lemon and sparkling water. The Donald is garnished with an orange, while Hillary gets a lime.
“They have to be fast enough for a busy location to make or simple enough so they don't have to buy a lot of exotic things,” Blue said. “I didn't want it to be red or blue.”
Some bartenders disagreed, with Moretti's in Hoffman Estates adding blue Curacao and cranberry to distinguish the drinks, which are available at all locations for $5 through Nov. 8.
“They're selling so well,” Blue said. “It's a great conversation starter at the bar when people are saying 'I'm drinking a Hillary' or 'I'm drinking The Donald.'”
Ala Carte venues offer half-price pizza on Tuesdays, making it the busiest weeknight for most of the chain's restaurants.
“It'll be great to see if people are voting with vodka as well,” Blue said.
Other spots are using specials to encourage people to vote. Sullivan's Steakhouse, which has locations in Lincolnshire, Naperville and Chicago, is serving red and blue versions of its signature Knockout cocktail for $7 if you come wearing your “I Voted” sticker. Made with Svedka clementine vodka infused with fresh pineapple, the drink is normally $12.
“We will be using food coloring to add dye to the cocktails without adjusting the flavor,” said Sullivan's Steakhouse Chicago general manager Spenser Tuzzo. “The Knockout is one of Sullivan's best-selling cocktails. We wanted to give our guests the option to celebrate the evening with one of their favorite drinks, only this time, showing support for the candidate of their choice.”
You can also show off your sticker at The Grandstander in Geneva to get half-off any cocktail or at St. Charles' The Finery & Blacksmith Bar for a $5 Old Fashioned. If you want to vote for something with lower stakes, head to Bub City in Rosemont which is pitting Tennessee whiskey and Kentucky bourbon against each other with $5 pours of Jack Daniels and Jim Beam all night.