19 Feb Election Cocktails: Full Participation Cocktail Recipe

Posted at 07:00h in Blog, Cocktail Recipes, Cocktail Recipes: R&J Original, Party Tips by Roberts & June

Election Drinks: Full Participation

In some way, shape, or form we’ve been planning events for the past decade; the details, purpose, and types of the events have d r a s t i c a l l y varied but there is always a through-line of

a) how do we make sure everyone feels welcome?

b) how do we make sure everyone has a great time?

c) how do we think through every logistical detail ahead of time so that party goes off without a hitch?

(The last one is especially my favorite).

Years ago, I was in charge of a massive week-long community event. The focus was on bringing everyone in our neighborhood together–kids, parents, Muslims, Catholics, atheists, low-income refugees, yuppies, and young professionals. We decided the unifying activity would be a soccer program. Everyone had a role, the planning was endless, and the drink of the night was…water. It was the most beautiful and complicated thing I’ve ever been a part of.

The anticipation leading up to an event and the adrenaline once it’s happening will carry me through anything. But then the event ends. My adrenaline makes a quick exit, and I remember that I’m exhausted and I haven’t eaten anything other than peanut butter filled pretzels for the last 7 days. One year during this post-event exhaustion all of the volunteers and I went to a local bar in Harvard Square. I asked my good friend, who introduced me to all the drinking games and dirty jokes you’re supposed to learn in college, “what is the strongest drink I can order?” His answer: long island iced tea.

They’re not classy, but, man, they do the trick.

It seemed only fitting in coming up with drinks for our recent event on innovation and democracy that one of them be about full participation. To make our cities and countries run we need everyone. All hands on decks. Everyone to the polls. Every vote counts. Full participation! And what better drink than a long island iced tea to exemplify full participation? People love long island iced teas because they involve practically every liquor under the sun. The result–just like in society–is beautiful. And, as we learned in making this drink, complicated and messy. So many bottles. So many specific proportions.

We classed up the classic recipe a little, and lightened it up some with some juice, and specifically focused on trying to use liquors from a wide variety of places. Here’s to full participation…in good cocktails and elections.