SIPPING THROUGH HISTORY

Happy Hour In The White House: 10 Favorite Drinks Of U.S. Presidents

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From the Oval Office to the local tavern, every president has had their own preferred libation. Some of these beverages even offer a glimpse into the personal tastes and cultural influences of America's leaders.

Let's raise a glass and explore the favorite drinks of these ten U.S. presidents. Cheers!

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Despite the fact that he was the proud owner of his own distillery - located in Mount Vernon -, Washington rarely drank whiskey. Instead, he loved to unwind after a long day with a dark porter beer sweetened with molasses that he brought from Philadelphia.

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As a Francophile and expert wine connoisseur, Jefferson had an affinity for French wines, particularly Bordeaux and Champagne. His extensive wine collection at Monticello was often praised by guests and friends, and keeping it full and replenished almost brought him to financial ruin. His fanaticism for the beverage went as far as to consider wine a healthy alternative for whiskey - which, in turn, he saw as "poisonous" and detrimental to American society.

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Unsurprisingly, Honest Abe's drink of choice was plain water. Lincoln was known for his temperance and moderation, abstaining from alcohol for most of his life. His simple tastes reflected his humble origins and dedication to self-discipline. However, despite his personal preferences, he saw no issue in owning a bar with an old militia friend in New Salem, Illinois.

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Teddy Roosevelt, a man of robust tastes, favored the classic Southern cocktail, the mint julep. This refreshing blend of bourbon, mint, sugar, and ice was a favorite at the White House during his term. Despite claiming to "never have been drunk" in his life, he often used the drink to entice his cabinet to play tennis with him.

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As one would expect for the President who put an end to the Prohibition era, FDR was an experienced drinker who enjoyed many classic cocktails. However, among these, a well-made Martini - served extra dry with a twist of lemon - was perhaps his favorite beverage. Martini hour became a regular occurrence during Roosevelt's presidency, a tradition that endures to this day in American politics.

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Kennedy didn’t have just one favorite drink, but he was certainly partial both to bloody marys and daiquiris. With his youthful charm and glamorous lifestyle, these fancy mixed drinks suited him well, and he would often share them with guests and friends during his time in the White House.

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As a former Hollywood actor and California governor, Reagan proudly promoted wines from his home state. He played a significant role in elevating California wines to international acclaim, often serving them at official functions and state dinners.

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Clinton's beverage of choice was the Snakebite, a cocktail popular in the UK that consists of equal parts hard cider and lager beer. Funnily enough, he once tried to order one in Harrogate, England, only to find out that some UK establishments refuse to serve it, under the false impression that it is somehow a dangerous mixture.

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During his term in the White House, Ford was often seen enjoying a Martini, a classic cocktail with a touch of sophistication. He appreciated the refreshing taste of the gin and vermouth blend and used to have two or more at lunch. In fact, he drank them so often that his staff asked him to cut it back a little, out of fear that the media would start targeting his habit.

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Though his doctor reportedly didn’t allow him to drink to excess, Eisenhower had a fondness for Scotch whisky, particularly enjoying it on the rocks. He had become a lover of the strong drink while serving in Europe, during World War II. His taste for the robust spirit mirrored his no-nonsense personality and leadership style, and - as many did at the time - he often diluted the drink with a dash of sparkling water.

THE WEIRD AND THE WONDERFUL

Learn About 10 English Idioms And Then You Can "Hit The Hay"!

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Language is complex and rich, but we often use it without even thinking about where our words and expressions come from. For example, have you ever thought about the origins of the idiom "upset the apple cart"? And what about "hit the hay"? Idiomatic expressions can be quite daunting, and we’ve gathered 10 of them to explore their meanings and origins. Continue reading if you want to find out, too!

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Quite a strong start, isn’t it? This idiom, with a vivid image and quite dark humor behind it, is simply amazing and it means to discard something valuable (the baby, one can only assume) along with things that are not wanted or valued (the bath water).

Origins are not so certain, but it is probably derived from a German expression ("Das Kind mit dem Bade ausschütten"), and it was first recorded in 1853 by a German-to-English translator.

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Have you ever had a perfectly laid plan with a well-defined course of action, only for it to derail, ruining everything? You could say someone "upset the apple cart."

That is what the idiom means: to obstruct or derail someone’s plan, especially if it is to hinder progress. In short, to spoil everything.

The phrase dates back to the 1700s and derives from a Roman phrase which originally was "upset the cart."

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You’ve had a long day, so you just want to get home, have a nice dinner, and get ready to hit the hay. Does that sound familiar? That is because this idiom is used quite frequently in everyday English, but have you ever wondered about its origins?

One can always say, "Go to bed," but the idiom is much more fun. And its origin is not metaphoric at all; it’s right there in the phrase. When beds weren’t accessible for everyone, hays (or sacks in the alternate version) were the bed of choice, hence this fun (but itchy) idiom!

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The good thing about idioms is that they usually don’t hold a literal meaning; just imagine chewing the fat! This idiom has to do with engaging in a conversation about trivial matters or small talk.

This phrase can be traced back to British English of the 1880s, and an alternate version is "chew the rag," although why any of these words were chosen to refer to gossip is not known. Maybe it has to do with how juicy fat can get; what do you think?

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When John Lennon wrote, "Imagine all the people living life in peace," we could easily say that it was just a pie in the sky.

A pie in the sky refers to that impossible thing one hopes happens. It refers to wishful thinking, and it is part of a larger chant: "Work and pray, live on hay, you’ll get a pie in the sky when you die." Can you guess who chanted this? It was a rallying song called "The Preacher and the Slave," composed by Joe Hill and sung by the International Workers of the World in 1911.

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Animals in idioms are a dime a dozen; there are hundreds of them. And this one mentions a goat, but it actually comes from the world of horse racing.

Before a race, goats were placed next to horses to make them feel calm. Now, when someone got someone else’s goat, that horse got agitated. So, you guessed it: to get someone’s goat means to make someone feel angry or annoyed!

If you think this one is crazy, wait until you read the next one!

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Try to leave aside the fact that a hat and cattle have absolutely nothing in common and think of that person who is always talking about the things they’ll do, but never actually do anything. That person is all hat and no cattle.

This idiom is quite popular and takes several forms. For example, the British version is "All mouth and no trousers," and you’ve probably heard the phrase "Much ado about nothing." They are all synonyms!

This one, in particular, refers to cattle ranchers and the typical hat they use, describing those cowboys who used the hat but weren’t actually cattle owners.

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Well, things are getting pretty creepy here, aren’t they? Fear not; this idiom is much milder than it seems!

Originating in the 17th century, when wealthy people wore wigs quite often, bandits pulled them over people’s faces to make the job of taking their pennies easier for them. In time, the phrase came to describe those who are easily deceived and taken advantage of. Here’s one we hope you never use!

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Please do tell us if you think otherwise, but we don’t think sliced bread is something to get crazy over, right? Well, in the 1920s, when sliced bread made its first appearance, it surely was a great thing. So much so it became an idiom!

What it means is simply that nothing so great happened after sliced bread, until the topic you’re discussing. For example: "Look at this article; it’s the best thing since sliced bread!"

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Let’s end this list with a cute idiom. Aren’t baby animals the cutest? Especially when they are around their mommies, and they lick their offspring to bathe them.

But why does the idiom mention the ears? Well, because that’s the last place to dry in a newborn. On a similar note, this cute idiom -which can be traced back to the early 1900s- is used to refer to people who lack experience or are immature. This one describes us all at one point or another, doesn’t it?