Alcoholic Drinks as an Indicator of Political Leaning (& Likeliness to Vote)

[traininthedistance]

How is Sam Adams a Republican drink?

The explanation I've heard is that it is the best beer that is regularly available in unfancy, white-bread Republican areas (i.e. what is sometimes derided as "flyover country").  It thus takes the market share that goes to microbrews in more cosmopolitan locales.

I remember being shocked at seeing another version of this graph which had Yuengling as strongly Republican, but then realized that it was the local popular brew of not just Democratic Philadelphia, but also very Republican Appalachia.

...

The Republican skew of all whiskies saddens me.

[traininthedistance]

Gin being a Democratic drink is surprising.

Probably because gin leans towards women in the US.

Because martinis and their various variations have more or less become a "women's drink."

Then you have gin and juice, which is more of an African-American cocktail.

And the gin and tonic is a WASP staple.

You're definitely right about the gin and juice (which came to my mind as well); true also about the G&T but WASPs are still a mixed bag at best.

But most of those "various variations" (and it grinds my teeth endlessly to say this) as well as too many so-called real "martinis" are actually made from vodka. 

I guess there's a counterbalancing factor- hipsters and cocktail nerds like myself who avoid vodka because it's tasteless and just marketing, and reach for gin (which has history and flavor) instead whenever they need a clear spirit.  But I'm pretty sure that's merely a tiny (if growing) countercurrent against a sea of all-conquering grey geese.

Yes I'm aware the last paragraph marks me as a BRTD of booze.  Whatever, I'll take my lumps.

[traininthedistance]

Also hilarious and revealing: the massive gulf between Corona and Corona Light.  Clearly one of these is more popular with frat bros, the other with actual Mexicans.