Old Ebbitt Grill rolls out special Convention cocktails

WASHINGTON - The Old Ebbitt Grill is rolling out two special Convention cocktails on Monday. Bartender Sean Hughes created the delicious drinks name, "The Politician" and "The Tycoon."

Here are the ingredients:

"The Politician" is a take on the classic "Pink Lady" cocktail.

A stiff gin drink sweetened with house made grenadine and simple syrup, smoothed by half & half, and harshened by a dash of orange bitters. The drinks looks tame but is sneakily complex. Poured into a martini glass, garnished with a cherry and an orange wedge.

"The Tycoon" is a variation of an "Orange Crush."

Orange vodka, orange juice, and triple sec combine for a very orange-colored and flavored drink. A splash of Goldschlager introduces some cinnamon spice and a few shiny wafers of 24 karat gold floating throughout the glass. Topped with Sprite to add some interesting fizz, garnished with an orange slice.

The Old Ebbitt Grill, Washington's oldest saloon, was founded in 1856 when, according to legend, innkeeper William E. Ebbitt bought a boarding house. Today, no one can pinpoint the house's exact location, but it was most likely on the edge of present-day Chinatown, according to the restaurant's website.

In 1983, the Old Ebbitt Grill was uprooted one last time when it moved around the corner to its current location at 675 15th Street NW to the Beaux-Arts building that was once the old B. F. Keith's Theater. Bringing its rich history with it, the "new" Old Ebbitt remains a historic landmark.