Cocktail of the Month: The DC Grand Prix
By • August 5, 2026 0 539
Anyone who drives in D.C. traffic knows the feeling. Vehicles moving at a snail’s pace or locked in a complete standstill. Drivers glancing at the time while tapping fingers on the steering wheel. Pure exhaustion from doing nothing while trapped in a metal box.
At these moments, the ultimate fantasy might be to zoom along Pennsylvania Avenue at speeds topping 200 mph. Imagine leaving the U.S. capital in the dust in your rear view mirror and museums whizzing by you in a flash as you zip around the National Mall.
While, for most people, this scenario may only be possible in their dreams, later this month it will be reality for the twenty-plus drivers competing in the Freedom 250 Grand Prix.
This race, the first-ever IndyCar race to be held on the Mall, features a 1.7-mile, seven-turn street circuit passing historic landmarks. Though the window for ordering tickets has closed, enthusiasts can watch from home on live TV on Aug. 23.
A unique event like this deserves to be toasted with a cocktail. It turns out that there are a few different “Grand Prix” cocktails.
The most famous is the Hotel Savoy’s Grand Prix, which originated in Florence. Bartender Denis Giuliani captured the grandeur of Italian supercars in this racy drink. Forged from red vermouth — infused with herbs and botanicals — and Italian beer, then sweetened with orange juice, this sophisticated tipple will rev up your taste buds.
A more modern concoction is the Cold Brew Grand Prix, created by bartender Morgan Schick for Villon, inside San Francisco’s Proper Hotel. As you can guess from its moniker, the star ingredient is cold-brewed coffee, which makes it a perfect brunch cocktail — ideal for sipping while checking out D.C.’s race, which kicks off at 1 p.m. on a Sunday. The java is mixed with Campari, delivering a broad spectrum of delicious bitter flavors. Grapefruit juice provides a freshness, simple syrup adds a touch of sweetness and a generous splash of tonic gives it a breezy, fizzy finish.
The revered Difford’s cocktail guide also has a listing for a Grand Prix, though it’s a bit more boozy than the others. Containing four spirited ingredients — vodka, crème de cassis, vermouth and Campari, this may be not be the best option for “day drinking.”
What ties all these cocktails together is a solid “bitter” element, along with a sweet-sour citrus component. What if we took inspiration from all these drinks to make something unique to D.C. for its premier racing event?
Let’s start with the aperitivo. It’s possible to still honor Italy but keep it local. Ivy City’s family-run Don Ciccio & Figli distillery produces spirts first crafted by their ancestors in Italy, starting in 1852. Their products include amaro spirits, sweet cordials like limoncello and Ambrosia, a bittersweet aperitivo infused with turmeric and blood orange, with a flavor profile similar to Campari’s.
If we follow the recipe for the coffee-based Grand Prix, we can add locally sourced mud from Zeke’s, a small-batch roastery renowned for organic fair-trade coffee. Growlers of their cold brew are available for takeaway.
For the sweet-sour components, I suggest freshly squeezing your own ruby red grapefruit juice or buying a premium product like Evolution Fresh’s pure grapefruit from the supermarket. This will add tartness and fruitiness.
For a sugary twinge, use a small part of either simple syrup or limoncello. Finally, a generous splash of tonic takes the edge off the bitterness while buzzing things up a bit.
While this cocktail makes a perfect accompaniment for watching the big race on TV, remember not to drink and drive!
The DC Grand Prix
2 oz. Don Ciccio & Figli Ambrosia aperitivo
1.5 oz. cold-brewed coffee
1 tbsp. simple syrup or limoncello
3 oz. red grapefruit juice
Tonic water
Pour the aperitivo, coffee and simple syrup/limoncello into a tall glass with ice. Stir. Add grapefruit juice and stir again. Top off with tonic.
