15 Views on What to Drink on Election Night

Amy Mundwiler National director of wine and beverage, Maple and Ash, Chicago

Win or lose: “I will be drinking Champagne. Specifically, Drappier Carte d’Or. If I’m celebrating, I want Champagne. If I need to cheer myself up, I want Champagne. Why Drappier Carte d’Or? It’s my favorite. It’s delicious and affordable, and based on the news these days, we’re probably gonna need more than one bottle. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”

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Andra “AJ” Johnson; managing partner, Serenata DC, Washington

If it’s a win: “Tres leches Ramos fizz … the sweet taste of success. I chose this cocktail because, if we win, it’s cause for celebration, but also it took a lot of hard work to get here. The Fizz in any variation is a lot of ‘shaking things up’ in order to get the desired result. But once you get it and master it, there’s no better feeling.”

If it’s a loss: “Corpse reviver variation … death to us all.”

Sam Bogue; beverage director, Flour + Water Hospitality Group, San Francisco

If it’s a win: “It will be a trip or two directly to my cellar at home. I have an old bottle of Jacques Puffeney Arbois [an aromatic white from the Jura] that I have been waiting for a special moment to enjoy. It should be a good foil to the many bottles of Champagne that will undoubtedly be flowing.”

If it’s a loss: “A very stiff mezcal Negroni, slightly saline from the single dramatic tear which ran down my face and into my drink.”

Alessandro Pisi; bar director at the Wells, Washington

If it’s a win: “A Last Word. Followed by a glass of Champagne.”

If it’s a loss: “Third Degree cocktail [a notably dry gin martini that includes a splash of absinthe]. Make it a double, please.”

Calvin Barnett; sommelier, Perilla Chicago

If it’s a win: “2006 Pierre Moncuit Cuvée Nicole, Vieilles Vignes, Grand Cru, Extra Brut. Decadence and revelation from one of the great grower estates, now headed up by Nicole herself.”

If it’s a loss: “A tried-and-true whisky with which to commiserate, Green Spot with a dash of orange bitters.”

Christa Cotton; founder and CEO, El Guapo, New Orleans

If it’s a win: “I’ll be cheers-ing on Election Night with my favorite Champagne cocktail, the Rose Cordial with bitters and a brut Champagne! More than anything, I’m excited for the ad cycle to end.”

If it’s a loss: “We’ll need something a bit stronger … a Manhattan, perhaps? I like mine dark and dry with Luxardo cherries and an extra dash of bitters.”

LeQoinne Rice; mixologist/co-owner of For the People Hospitality (including Revolver in Chicago and the Dime in Los Angeles)

If it’s a win: ‘Smoke on the Water’ is a testament to my journey, from launching my first restaurant to the optimism you bring to each endeavor. That mezcal cocktail, with its balance of smoky, sweet and spicy elements: passion, perseverance and a little heat to spark things up. If my candidate wins, it’s the perfect drink to toast to new beginnings and the power of ambition. Cheers to optimism and all that it’s brought you!”

If it’s a loss: “In a time of crisis, I’m going to drink a mushroom-butter-washed old-fashioned with cacao bitters to ease my nerves and to keep me calm with the thought of this only lasting for 1,460 days. Definitely going to bed right after.”

Josh Harris; co-founder, Bon Vivants Hospitality, San Francisco

If it’s a win: “I’ll be drinking an Almave tequila old-fashioned and hanging with my wife, Ruby, and our rescue bulldog pups, Louise the Tongue and Joey Bear.” If it’s a loss: “I’ll reach for a non-alcoholic beer and shot combo: a Best Day Brewing Kolsch and a Pathfinder amaro.”

Owen Huzar; sommelier, John’s Food and Wine, Chicago

If it’s a win: “I will be drinking Whitcraft 2020 Pence Ranch Chardonnay to celebrate a small family-owned American winery. Drake Whitcraft and his team showcase the best of Santa Barbara and the Central Coast with both his red and white wines. The vintage is also reminiscent of where we were four years ago in the midst of Covid, and a reflection of how far we’ve come since.”

If it’s a loss: “I’ll be drinking Hoopes Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, from a small, woman-owned, multi-generational American winery. Its warming quality reassures me that no matter what happens, it isn’t the end of the world, and the dawn of a new day is always an opportunity to find positivity and growth.”

(Image: Adobe Stock)