Newport’s Gardiner House, in collaboration with Litchfield Distillery, hosted a History of Cocktails President’s Day event during the Newport Winter Festival on Feb. 19. Led by Gardiner House’s John Begin, local cocktail historian, Bartender and Bar Manager, along with Cameron Carlin, Bartender, guests learned the connecting history of Newport’s past presidential visitors and how to make four presidential-themed cocktails featuring Litchfield Distillery Batchers’ Vodka and Straight Rye Whiskey, Papa’s Pilar Blonde Rum and Thomas Tew Single Barrel Rum. The cocktails included the Gilbert Stuart cocktail, in honor of George Washington, featuring Thomas Tew Single Barrel Rum, lime juice, a drizzle of molasses and a lime garnish; the Idawalley Lewis cocktail for Ulysses S. Grant, featuring Litchfield Distillery Batchers’ Straight Rye Whiskey, orange juice, pineapple juice and a flaming orange garnish; JFK’s cocktail, the Jack’s Daiquiri, featuring Papa’s Pilar Blonde Rum, lime juice, agave, Fee Brothers West Indies Style Falernum and a lime garnish; and the Whatever She Wants cocktail, an ode to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, made with Litchfield Distillery Vodka, pomegranate juice, raspberry orange juice and pineapple juice. Onassis used to order it at Newport’s historic The White Horse Tavern, which will now be on the Gardiner House cocktail menu called Whatever She Wants.

Photos by Laura Widness.