Denver Magazine / Denver Magazine August 2008 / Campaigning for Cocktails

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Campaigning for Cocktails

Dixons is pouring up politically-themed drinks just for Convention week.

Late in 2007, Sen. Hillary Clinton doled out some advice for Iowa caucus-goers: "New Years Eve "” don't drink very much!" It seems that the New York senator "” and tenacious presidential hopeful "” wanted to ensure that her supporters wouldn't be too hung-over to cast their votes.

But here in Denver, democracy and drinking go hand-in-hand, and in true bipartisan spirit, Dixons Downtown Grill is pouring politically-themed cocktails throughout the Democratic National Convention.

All of the cleverly-named concoctions are listed below, but to see which creations made the bartender's ballot, you'll need to stop by Dixons during the convention. Matt Raia, a bartender at Dixons, warns that heated political debates aren't part of the equation. "Politics can make people get overly emotional," he says.

In other words, play nice, people.

Obamapolitan

1 1/2 oz Stolichnaya vodka

Dash triple sec

Splash lime juice

2 oz fruit punch

Garnish with an orange rim and a candied orange wedge

Shake and serve up in a martini glass

Barack Me Slowly

1 oz Stolichnaya vodka

1/2 oz sloe gin

1 oz peach schnapps

Splash sweet and sour mix

Fill with soda water

Garnish with a pomegranate rim and an orange

Serve on the rocks in a red wine glass

Bill-eenee

2 oz champagne

Splash Chambord

Splash peach schnapps

Garnish with a lemon twist

Serve in a champagne glass

Rodham Sock "˜em

2 oz Stolichnaya vodka

3 oz lemonade concentrate

Ice

Blend and serve frozen

Garnish with a lemon twist and a rock candy

swizzle stick

Serve in a red wine glass

Casa Blanca

1 1/2 oz Stolichnaya Ohranj

1/2 oz Amaretto

1/2 oz. White Crème de Cacao

1 oz cream

Garnish with a candied lemon wedge

Shake and serve in a martini glass

Dean & Dirty

2 1/2 oz Ketel One vodka

1/2 oz olive juice

Garnish with blue cheese-stuffed olives

Shake and serve in a martini glass

Cuba Liberal

1 1/2 oz spiced rum

Fill with Coke

Garnish with a black licorice straw

Serve in a rocks glass

Looper Trooper

1/2 oz gin

1/2 oz rum

1/2 oz peach Stoli Peachik vodka

1oz sweet & sour mix

Fill with cranberry juice

Garnish with a lemon wedge

Serve in a pint glass with ice

Hickenstooper

1 oz Bacardi rum

1/2 oz Myers's rum

Fill with fruit punch

Float of Bacardi 151 rum

Garnish with a Jolly Rancher lemon candy rim and a candied lemon wedge

Serve in a pint glass with ice

Smokin' Dean Martini

2 1/2 oz Tanqueray gin

Garnish with smoked Gouda-stuffed olives

Accompany with a pack of candy cigarettes.

Shake and serve up in a martini glass

Hillarini

1/2 oz Stolichnaya vodka

1/2 oz Frangelico liqueur

1/2 oz coffee liqueur

2 oz milk

Garnish with white chocolate rim

Shake and serve up in a martini glass

MargaRitter

1 1/2 oz Sauza Gold tequila

1/2 oz triple sec

Splash lime juice

1 oz sweet and sour mix

2 oz grapefruit juice

Garnish with a sweet and sour rim and lime wedge

Shake and serve up in a martini glass

Blue State of Mind

1 1/2 oz Stolichnaya Razberi vodka

1/2 oz blue curacao

1 1/2 oz sweet and sour mix

1 1/2 oz 7-Up

Garnish with a Jolly Rancher blueberry candy rim and a fresh blueberry flag

Shake and serve up in a martini glass

Bellying up with Dixons bartender Matt Raia

My favorite drink from the Dixons' DNC drink roster is the Smokin' Dean martini, which is not to imply that Chairman Dean smokes or drinks. It's a tribute to the Rat Pack and Sinatra. It's classic cocktail with all the trimmings "” complete with a pack of candy cigarettes.

Hilary Clinton "¦ is a very conscientious and intelligent candidate who has made a strong statement that women can achieve the highest office in the land, even if she didn't convince everyone that she's the one for the job.

Barack Obama "¦ has an original outlook on the state of this country, perhaps untested internationally and economically, but he has a fresh and inquisitive set of eyes which might be what this country needs.

John McCain "¦ is a stand-up guy who can immediately relate to those that are happily indifferent.

The biggest issue facing Americans today "¦ are the damn gas prices. Oil companies are recording record profits while we're all paying four bucks a gallon at the pump. Something ain't right.

Best overheard political joke "¦ It's a well-known fact that college Republicans have less sex than college Democrats. After all, who's ever heard of having a great piece of elephant?

When barflies start talking politics "¦ I turn the topic to sports. I have a standing rule at the bar: no politics and no religion. But talking about sports is safe. No one is going to kick someone's ass if they're a Cubs fan.