There’s nothing like a Manhattan — bourbon, vermouth and a splash of bitters — to kick off the holiday season. Just ask Bill Samuels, whose family has distilled the legendary Maker’s Mark bourbon for seven generations in Kentucky. Samuels, talking above with Christine Roth (center) of the House Education and the Workforce Committee and Shahira Knight of the Ways and Means Committee, was on hand Thursday for Allied Domecq’s holiday reception at the Sewell-Belmont House. Allied Domecq, one of the world’s largest spirits companies, owns the Maker’s Mark brand. Samuels autographed special bottles of Maker’s Mark, hand-dipped in black wax and sprinkled with glitter. Maker’s Mark started the tradition of using red wax in its packaging in 1958.