Once a Presidential favorite, the Bronx Martini cocktail is a sweet and sassy drink you can enjoy any time of day… without a drop of political scandal.
It’s the final day of a three-day weekend here in the US. In addition to work and meeting up with some friends, my husband, kids and I celebrated a low-key Valentine’s Day here at home. We cooked up a big brunch (see a photo of some of our heart-shaped brunch treats on Instagram) and lots of family snuggles. The next few weekends are super crazy, so I was determined to have this be a stress-free, family-focused weekend. I’m grateful we were able to make it happen!
And so we move on from one holiday immediately into another…
Cocktails and Politics

I like to transition from Valentine’s Day to President’s Day the way any good food, wine, and travel writer would: from bubbles and chocolate cake, to cocktails that tell tales of Presidential scandals with every sip, like this Bronx Martini.

Cocktails and politics have a long history. According to the Smithsonian, the first written use of the word cocktail was in an 1806 editorial criticizing a politician’s excessive alcohol spending during his campaign. Since then, US Presidents have not only brought their agendas and policies to the White House, but also their preferred cocktails.
Presidential Cocktails

Here’s a look at just a few of the reported favorite cocktails of past US Presidents:
President Harry Truman: the Old Fashioned (try this Rosemary Citrus Old Fashioned)
President John F. Kennedy: Daquiris and Bloody Marys
President Franklin D. Roosevelt: Martinis
President John Adams: Hard Cider (try the Marionberry Cider Crush)
Even President Warren Harding, who served during Prohibition, was known to hide a bottle of whiskey in his golf bag and take a few sips before teeing off. He would undoubtedly approve of my Apple Whiskey Ginger Sour cocktail recipe.
Finally, President Taft: an orange concoction that he liked to have served at breakfast meetings, which became known as the Bronx Martini Cocktail.
The Bronx Martini Cocktail

So of course, for this President’s Day, I had to make the Bronx Cocktail. I spent my 20s enjoying cocktail lunch meetings and essentially what Taft did was serve his version of brunch mimosas at his morning meetings. They say if you can dream it, do it, so goon on ya’ President Taft!
Here’s a big Mixology Monday cheers to the Presidents who have served our country. I raise my glass to anyone who is brave and strong enough to even attempt to win that position, and I don’t blame them one iota for enjoying a few cocktails at the end of their crazy days (which, I imagine, never really have a true end or beginning…).

The Bronx Martini Cocktail

Ingredients
- 2 oz gin
- 1 oz orange juice
- 1/2 oz dry vermouth
- 1/2 oz sweet vermouth
- 2-3 drops orange or grapefruit bitters
Instructions
- Shake with ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange or lemon twist.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Have you ever tried the Bronx Cocktail or something similar? Which President do you align with in terms of cocktail policy preference?











I’m liking this one!!! President Taft knew how to treat his guests, brunch and a delicious cocktail!!
Penn&Quill || Robin
I bet he had some really happening meetings with these! :) Thank you, Robin!
I’m a total gin girl! Love that this drink includes a few dashes of bitter – they make a cocktail so great!
The bitters are always a good addition, and I do love grapefruit bitters in this one, but standard aromatic bitters work too! :-)
This sounds delicious. I would love the hint of grapefruit in it! Haha ya Valentine’s Day and drinks seem to go hand in hand , we had too many last night ☺️. Great post
Danielle Greco | AccordingtoD.com
Thanks so much, Danielle!
That looks DELICIOUS, and you know this Mommy Needs a Vodka break…and a gin break…and a rum break! I’ll be trying this out next girls night in! That color is beautiful. Your pictures are lovely and really make the drink look divine. And it seems so easy!
We just posted a new cocktail too – the Red Headed Step Child?
This would be great for a girls’ night in! Thank you so much, Lisa!
Oooooo I SO wish I wasn’t pregnant seeing this!!! Now I want and I can’t have. So not fair!!
Ahh I’ll have to have one for you, then, Chrissa! Until you can imbibe again ;) Congratulations, by the way!!
I absolutely love how colorful this is! Totally not what I would think of for a presidential cocktail. Looks so delicious!
Right? I keep trying to picture Taft serving this at breakfast meetings and it seems so off, but it’s delicious, so I also get it ;) Thanks, Ashley!
OK, not a Gin girl but I am guessing you can sub in Vodka:) I think JFK might be my favorite drinker nothing better than a Bloody Mary on a Saturday morning!
Yes, vodka is definitely a more than suitable substitute ;) Thanks, Andrea!
What a pretty drink! I love this color. What a great idea for a post on President’s day!
Thanks so much, Laurie!
It sounds like JFK and I have a similar drink style ;-)
This sounds delicious and I can’t wait to try it ou this weekend, and it’s so pretty too!
Great minds think (and drink?) alike! ;) Thank you, Lara!
I am not much into alcohol but this one looks so bright and tasty. Loved that color!
It is a bright and happy colorful cocktail! Thanks for stopping by, Sayantini!
Love the look of the bronx cocktail, once I can enjoy the spring weather in my backyard this will definitely be a drink I have in my hand!
Ahh yes, I am longing for sunnier spring days when I can sit outside with one of these too!
I loved learning how the term cocktail came about! And this one looks fun, regardless of the time of day ;)
It’s so much fun to learn about the history of drinks! Thanks, Michele! :)
I’ve never heard of this, but I’m definitely going to try it out! It sounds fabulous (but for breakfast? That’s hardcore)! Great transition from Valentine’s Day! Enjoy the day off if you can :)
Haha – gin is a bit hardcore for breakfast for me as well, but I suppose it’s like a slightly more boozy mimosa, right? ;) Thanks, Patricia!
What a beauty! Happy President’s Day.
–Melissa
http://www.melissamchee.com
Thank you, Melissa!
I have never made a cocktail before, but I would love to try sometime.
They’re pretty simple and easy to make at home — and delicious! :) Thanks for stopping by, Cathleen!
I am loving the color! This sounds delicious!
Thanks, Marye! It’s definitely bright and happy! :)