The parties in Washington started soon after the sun went down, and partygoers wasted no time trying specialty cocktails.

At the Qorvis Communications party on Connecticut Avenue Northwest, a packed crowd enjoyed three specialty cocktails named “I Never Vote and Tell,” “Maverick Manhattan” and “Obama Rama.” Party hosts also gave away special Maker’s Mark glasses that were dipped on site with red, white and blue wax to make them look like the Maker’s Mark bottles.

The ballroom was packed at the National Press Club for the All Great American Spirit party, sponsored by the New Republic and the Weekly Standard. But even though the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States was co-sponsoring the fete, the mood was surprisingly tame, with guests tasting bourbon and rye and listening to a speech by Jimmy Russell, a master distiller.

At the National Press Club, the Truman Lounge was hopping with D.C. journos piling in for pub quizzes. TVs in the bar were all tuned to cable news.