Newport’s Safari Room Restaurant and Bar at OceanCliff, in collaboration with Connecticut craft spirits maker Litchfield Distillery, hosted a History of Cocktails Presidents Day Cocktail Party on Feb. 20. Led by Newport’s John Begin, local cocktail historian and bartender, and Reagan Nicole, Bartender, Safari Room, guests learned to make four cocktails connected to iconic presidential visitors of the seaport city using Litchfield Distillery spirits. The cocktails, named for each visiting presidents’ favorite table at the historic White Horse Tavern among landmarks, included the Table 33, dedicated to George Washington, a blend of Litchfield Distillery Port Cask Bourbon, lime juice and drizzled molasses over rocks with a lime garnish in a rocks glass; the Idawalley Lewis Lighthouse, in honor of Ulysses S. Grant, featuring Litchfield Distillery Bourbon, orange juice and pineapple juice with a pineapple garnish; the JFK, made with Litchfield Distillery Rye Whiskey, lime juice, falernum; and the Table 50 at The White Horse Tavern, in memory of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, using Litchfield Distillery Vodka, cranberry juice and pineapple juice. Guests also enjoyed tastes and education on the Litchfield Distillery line, distributed in Rhode Island via Johnson Brothers.
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- Newport’s History of Cocktails Presidents Day Cocktail Party returned on Feb. 20.
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- Douglas Maloney, Brand Ambassador, Litchfield Distillery and John Begin, Newport Historian and Bartender, creator of the Presidents Day cocktail program.
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- Douglas Maloney, Brand Ambassador, Litchfield Distillery; Roula Vithoulkas; Josette Caporale; and Peter Baker, Co-founder, Litchfield Distillery.
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- The Connecticut-made Litchfield Distillery Batchers’ line of handcrafted spirits.
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- John Begin, Cocktail Historian and Bartender created specialty event cocktails featuring Litchfield Distillery spirits.
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- The cocktail event featured Litchfield Distillery Batchers’ Bourbon Whiskey, Batchers’ Straight Rye Whiskey and Batchers’ Vodka.
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- The Table 33 at The White Horse Tavern cocktail, dedicated to George Washington, a blend of Litchfield Distillery Port Cask Bourbon, lime juice and drizzled molasses over rocks with a lime garnish in a rocks glass.
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- John Begin, Cocktail Historian and Bartender creates the Idawalley Lewis Lighthouse.
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- The Idawalley Lewis Lighthouse, in honor of Ulysses S. Grant, featuring Litchfield Distillery Bourbon, orange juice and pineapple juice with a pineapple garnish served in a Collins glass.
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- The Table 50 at The White Horse Tavern, in memory of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, using Litchfield Distillery Vodka and cranberry and pineapple juices, served in a flute glass.
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- The JFK, honoring its namesake Newport visitor, John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr., is made with Litchfield Distillery Rye Whiskey, lime juice and falernum.
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- A toast with The JFK.
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- Litchfield Distillery Five 50ml Sampler featured its Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Maple Bourbon, Gin and Vodka for guests participating in the event.
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- John Begin, Cocktail Historian and Bartender and Reagan Nicole, Bartender, Safari Room Restaurant and Bar at Oceancliff toast with The Table 50 cocktail.
Photos by Laura Widness.
