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The Carrie
The phrase “nevertheless, she persisted” might have made cultural waves just three short years ago, but the sentiment is just as relevant to both the suffrage movement of the early 1900s and the legacy of The Hermitage Hotel.
In honor of the 100th anniversary of the state’s ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, the hotel will be celebrating suffragists with a roster of inventive cocktails and events throughout the year. Because here’s a little-known fact: The property, which opened in 1910, played an integral role in making the historic piece of legislation possible.
The hotel once served as a hub for pro- and anti-suffragists lobbying Capitol Hill constituents for the right to vote. With anti-ratification forces wearing red roses squaring off against yellow-rose-wearing pro-suffrage campaigners, the ensuing struggle at The Hermitage Hotel came to be known as “The War of the Roses.” As a result of pro-suffrage efforts, Tennessee became the 36th state to pass the ratification of the 19th amendment.
It was said that during that time, both the pro- and the anti-suffragists enticed legislators with free whiskey—a fact that wasn’t lost upon the hotel’s iconic Oak Bar. Drawing inspiration from the historical figures involved in the movement, the bar curated a special suffrage-themed drink menu in commemoration of the 100th anniversary.
Each cocktail on the menu was designed to match the distinct personalities of the person for whom they were named. “The Carrie,” for example, was dedicated to the president of the National Woman Suffrage Association, Carrie Chapman Catt—notable for her strength and character. The cocktail is a robust and bold blend of whiskey, lemon, apricot sour, simple syrup, and orange bitters. In a nod to the local scene, “The Anne” takes its inspiration from Nashville native and Equal Suffrage League president Anne Dallas Dudley, with a charismatic and sophisticated mix of gin, lemon and hibiscus.
The suffrage-themed cocktail menu will be integrated into a number of events at The Hermitage Hotel, including an all-female summer music concert series and a pop-up bar experience. However, thirsty history buffs looking for a well-crafted sip can find the cocktails at the Oak Bar throughout 2020.
Oak Bar, The Hermitage Hotel, 231 6th Ave. N., 615-244-3121; thehermitagehotel.com