Last November, rather than ride out the endless election news cycle at home, I hopped on a plane and headed to a destination filled with verdant spaces to clear my head — and great drinks to quench my thirst, no matter the outcome.

The self-proclaimed weird capital of the Pacific Northwest, Portland is renowned for its vibrant brewery scene and reverent devotion to a perfect cuppa joe. But not just beans and grains get all the attention. Bartenders also mix up a damn fine cocktail, and the city’s proximity to the Willamette Valley (the namesake river flows through the town) means a great glass of wine is never far away.

When I wasn’t taking in seasonal blooms at the sprawling Rhododendron Garden or marveling at the koi pond, Mount Hood views and glorious Japanese Garden, I was seeking zen in my glass.

Just a few blocks from my room at Sentinel in the West End, I discovered Maurice, a charming if tiny laid-back staple for French- and Norwegian-inspired dishes. Lunch on Wine Wednesday might prove the best time to show up, when it’s easier to get a table and ever-changing small plates with ingredients from local farms pair with special bottles advertised on a chalkboard. Loire Valley bubbly made with Grolleau and Gamay paired perfectly with ice- cold Kumamoto oysters and tinned sardines and a juicy, raspberry-tinged Pinot Noir from Walter Scott in Oregon’s Eola-Amity Hills worked with regional cheeses and cured meats on our charcuterie board.

Generation Gap at Teardrop Lounge © Kelly Magyarics

Find another Francophile dream at Normandie, a chic bistro in the Southeast neighborhood. Seated solo at the bar, I decided to forego the larger plates in order to taste more of the smaller ones. Succulent poached prawns, Dungeness crab, shishitos and cucumber were set atop tangy gochujang crème fraîche; and roasted, almost- caramelized kabocha squash — tossed with persimmons, pickled shallots, cashews and sunflower seeds — was spooned onto lime yogurt; I devoured them both with a grass- and gooseberry-scented Sauvignon Blanc from Phelps Creek in the Columbia Gorge.

Oregon wine is divine, but I also wanted to immerse myself in Portland’s award-winning cocktail scene. Teardrop Lounge has been a bastion in the city since 2007, and legendary barman Daniel Shoemaker’s spot in the Pearl District sits high on every serious cocktailian’s bucket list. The menu runs deep, with 30 selections categorized into sections like “Arid & Aromatic” and “Supple & Herbal.” As I sipped the Generation Gap, a “Bright & Crisp” libation shaken with a proprietary gin blend, Italicus herbal liqueur, cardamom-sage tincture and orange sparkling wine, I admired the bar team’s swift, consistent and technique-driven service. From my perch at the round bar, it looked like a fascinating, well-choreographed dance.

At newcomer Too Soon, situated in the cool, buzzy Kerns neighborhood, Adam Robinson and Nick Flower create an ode to New York bars in the nascent cocktail renaissance years of the early 2000s. In the small space awash in a neon pink glow, the menu features quirky flavor combinations like apple, bourbon and horseradish, or mezcal, celery and shiso. I settled on the House Special, a savory yet tropical sip that stirs Tanqueray Gin with curry spices, bell pepper, coconut, lime and basil, then clarifies it to retain the rich, viscose mouthfeel of the coconut, without the color or texture. It was odd yet oddly perfect … just like my little Oregon election week escape.