Now this is something that you don’t see every day. In honor of President George Washington’s 277th birthday’s, members of the Virginia State Senate found a selection of miniature bottles of Whiskey on their desks, complete with a shot glass.

Of course, this wasn’t the act of some Whiskey distiller politician trying to exert a kind gesture to his fellow legislators, no, this gift was courtesy of Historic Mount Vernon and the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.

Here is the story from WUSA9.com:

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — How better to mark the birthday of George Washington than with a taste of All-American Whiskey? Sunday was Washington’s 277th birthday.

Members of the Virginia Senate found green keepsake boxes left on their desks containing a single 1.7-ounce bottle with a blend of 11 major brands of American whiskeys. Each box, courtesy of Historic Mount Vernon and the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, also contained a shot glass.

The labels, as diverse as Tennessee’s Jack Daniel, Missouri’s Platte Valley and home-state Virginia Gentleman, were mingled, vatted, bottled and labeled at Mount Vernon, Washington’s Virginia estate.

Strong drink in Richmond’s corridors of power isn’t new. Presenting it on the Senate floor is rare. Senator Ken Stolle of Virginia Beach said he’s never seen it in his 4 1/2 terms.

I don’t really think this is a big deal, even though they were voting today. But if you look at the minutes from today (February 23rd), you cant help but find this funny:

On motion of Senator Colgan, the Senate adjourned in memory of George Washington and Bishop Levi Willis at 1:26 p.m. to convene Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. and suspended the Rules to allow the Clerk to receive Commending and Memorial Resolutions until 5:00 p.m. (38-Y 0-N).  Pursuant to Rule 21 (d)ii, the Clerk was ordered to receive committee reports.

I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure Senator Colgan, and the rest of Senate just wanted to go get their drink on.

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