From the 1924 Manual del Cantinero, a recipe handbook for cuban bartenders. The El Presidente was named not for President Machado, as some would have it, but for one of his predecessors, Mario Garcia Menocal (who also cozied up to U.S. business interests during his 1913-1921 presidency). This American-style cocktail falls outside of the Caribbean Trinity of rum, lime, and sugar, but it was invented in Cuba. Cocktail historian Eric Felten traces its likely origin to the Vista Alegre Club in Santiago; the drink became very popular with Yanqui tourists, who made it a standard call in the U.S. after Repeal. (Spirits/Cocktails)