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There’s a heady cocktail in America’s capital region but we’re not talking, for now, about Trump 2.0.

Particularly with a bottle of the finest Northern Irish Galgorm gin looking for a mixer for our Christmas party.

And may we suggest the humble Washington DC gin rickey, the juice of the juniper, carbonated water and a squeezed lime?

The tipple which has been loosening the tongues of politicians on the Hill for nearly a century and a half.

Capitals idea

It’s how our friends in the Capital Region USA toast this time of year… who are we kidding all times of the year?

Just like Democratic lobbyist Joe Hickey of Missouri was wont to do back in the 1880s.

Now here’s a capital idea that our chum Cass has put together to extend the ‘special relationship’ between the US and Britain.

Man in the know: With George and Issy

With Capital Region working with St Ermin’s Hotel in London to curate a collection of their festive cocktails.

Bringing the region to life through the tastes, smells and sights of Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia.

Now helpfully CRU have opened up their drinks trolley to showcase these other faves.

Virginian territory

Virginia’s Moonshine Mixology: Because the most famous Virginian of them all, George Washington was the largest producer of whiskey in the Commonwealth.

Belle Isle Craft Spirits in Richmond, Virginia, uses its moonshine and mixes it with iced tea and house lemonade.

St Ermin’s Hotel recipe: 50ml apple and ginger juice, 50ml pomegranate juice, 50ml moonshine and a splash of lemon juice. Shake with ice and serve.

Cherry baby

DC’s Cherry Blossom Revolution: Antonio Matarazzo’s creation, Cherry Revolution celebrates Washington DC’s National Cherry Blossom Festival heritage.

By blending Don Ciccio & Figil Cerasum Aperitivo, an infusion of three different kinds of cherries and Sakura blossoms.

With vodka, orange and Galliano L’Autentico, and Anise and peppermint tasting liquor for a festive explosion.

St Ermin’s recipe: 50ml vodka, 80ml orange juice, 20ml cherry liquor, shot of herbal liquor, shake over ice, serve with cherry and garnish with blossom flower.

Cooler Mule ah

Maryland Mule: Traditionally served in a copper mug, this Maryland classic celebrates the state’s love affair with rye whiskey.

Pick award-winning Sagamore Spirits mixed with ginger beer, half a lime, and mint for garnish.

St Ermin’s recipe: 50ml rye whiskey, 100ml ginger beer, splash of fresh lime over ice, stir and serve.

America, Countries, Deals, Sport

A Tee Party in the Capital Region

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One thing we can all agree on in this US election cycle is that there’s going to be a Tee Party in the Capital Region when the Solheim Cup rolls in.

Fresh from making my pitch for my local course, Muirfield.

To golfing great Sir Nick Faldo at the Open at Royal Troon I’m looking further afield.

The golf tours move on, to the Olympics in Paris and now the men’s majors are done for the year, the women’s game.

Solheim from home

We have a special interest in my new stomping ground of North Berwick, the best place in Britain to live in.

In Solheim Cup great and proud townswoman Catriona Matthew.

And a special relationship with DC, Maryland and Virginia through family there and friends met at the US Travel Fair, IPW.

All under the umbrella of the Capital Region.

Capital gains

Reflections: After sunset from the edge of the reflecting pool in Washington DC.

I will often advise newbies to travelling in America that if they can’t do it all then the Capital Region is America in a nutshell.

Maryland, in fact, bills itself as America in Miniature while the capital and its Smithsonian Museums, tells the story of the States.

The next President of America: In Washington DC

And Virginia is your entry to the Deep South where the Trump posters we saw in 2016 will have been adapted to replace Pence for Vance.

Now if you think the divisions in American politics and society has reached a new breaking point.

Then it is worth noting that Virginia was the theatre for the first major battle of the US Civil War.

Battleground tourism

Stonewall it: With Stonewall Jackson in Manassas.

And why does this matter? Well, just because, but because you’ll be staying in Manassas for your golf.

Your Golf Travel offers packages to the Solheim Cup in Gainesville, Virginia.

All of which takes place from September 10-15, starting from £2215pp including flights.

You’ll get six nights bed and breakfast at the Hampton Inn in Gainesville or the Tru by Hilton in Manassas.

And the news: From the Capitol: In Washington

The practice day and tournament day tickets, Solheim Cup return transfers, 24-hour concierge service and event party.

Visitors wishing to add golfing experiences in the Capital Region USA can add a tailor-made holiday to the package for an additional cost.

Picnic time

And if it might seem quirky to be a tourist in a battlefield town then consider this.

Day trippers descended on Manassas, or Bull Run, with picnic blankets to watch the fighting.

We’re hoping and expecting that the two sets of rivals will keep it more gentlewomanly on their field of battle.

And that you can enjoy your Tee Party in the Capital Region.

America, Countries, Europe

Tourists going battle class

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Pitched fights were what passed for live sport back in the day (well, there was no football) with tourists going battle class.

And as is the way with big entertainment, America led the way.

Well, there was the coming ‘attraction’ of the American Civil War.

No seriously for the Great and Good of the capital the first skirmishes of what they never conceived would last four years were seen as a glorious day out.

Ready for battle: The American Civil War

And the grand ladies got their picnics out and their maids to take them down to within view of Manassas in Virginia, 32 miles from the capital.

Alas, this was not the derring-do of frontier adventures but bloody carnage and the tourists even had to hot-tail it back to Washington DC when the fighting got too close.

These days they make capital out of the battle with history tourists able to get up close and personal to the likes of Stonewall Jackson.

And interact with guides dressed up as soldiers.

War, this is what it’s good for

The excitement of close-up coverage of a real-life battle caught on and there were spectators too at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Though we can’t imagine that there had ‘come to dedicate a portion of that field’ to the tourists.

And here in Europe at the Franco-Prussian War, following in a rich tradition where tourists, celebrities including Robert Southey among them, visiting battlefields, post-killing.

Thomas Cook got in on the act too promoting travel out to the Boer War.

Old Boers: At a Boer graveyard in South Africa

All of which is still on the tourist map when you’re down there as I was in the Eastern Cape. And some towns don’t look to have changed since then.

Now thankfully, and again we probably have football to thank for this, real-life battles are no longer spectator sports.

In their place though are recreations, and there’s a classic every year in our favourite region of Greece, Attica.

Where the locals have been refighting the pivotal naval Battle of Spetses, or Armata, from the Greek War of Independence in 1822.

The Armata

Of course you know but just a reminder that Spetses was where Captain Andreas Miaoulis and the captains of Spetses, Hydra, and Psara islands fought against the Turkish naval forces.

While Kosmas Barbatsis from Spetses set fire to the enemy flagship, making the Turks retreat.

The climax of the island’s festivities which take place in the second week of September commemorating the battle on the 8th is the burning of a model of the Ottoman flagship.

But, of course, there are fireworks, concerts, plays and church services with the Virgin Mary to the fore with her birthday also on the 8th September.

Helpfully too and my schoolboy Greek is sketchy, and is only useful 2,500 years ago, they have translations from the Greek into English.

And for tourists going battle class, my Greek odyssey was courtesy of Lufthansa… and quite an odyssey it was too.

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A heady cocktail in America’s capital region