The best Prohibition-era cocktails and the history behind them...
Jul 12, 2021
If you’re a) a gin lover and b) interested in the history of gin, then good news - you’re in the right place! Here at Craft Gin Club, we’re fascinated by the history of gin and learning exactly how we ended up in the ginny world we’re in today. So what exactly was the Prohibition era, and how did so many cracking cocktails come from this turbulent time?
So, what does ‘prohibition’ mean when we’re talking about booze - and when did it happen? Known - publicly, at least! - as the ‘noble experiment’, Prohibition refers to the period of history when United States Congress effectively made alcohol an illegal drug: the government of the day passed a federal statute, implementing the 18th Amendment, banning the sales, distribution, and transportation of alcohol. They also created a stern bureau of federal agents to enforce this new law (see below!).
The prohibition era took place in the United States from January 1920 to December 1933. Yes, that’s 13 whole years! The ambition? To reduce crime, solve social problems, and improve hygiene and health throughout America.
And you wouldn’t want to risk being caught by the bureau of prohibition, would you?
However, faced with life after the events of World War I and the influenza pandemic of 1918-19, Americans were looking for ways to imbibe, whether it was prohibited or not. Soon enough, illegal distillation and bootlegging (illegal selling) became big business.
So how would people get their boozy fix? If you fancied a tipple, you would have to find a bootlegger and risk getting caught, or buy it from licensed druggists or clergymen for ‘medicinal’ or ‘religious’ purposes. (And we know how remedying a good G&T or gin cocktail can be!) The other option, of course, was to visit a so-called speakeasy.
A speakeasy was a private, unlicensed bar room. Usually found in urban areas, these illicit bars, also known as ‘blind pigs’ and ‘gin joints’ multiplied rapidly during the era of Prohibition as people sought to have a good time, whatever the risk. There was a real mix of calibre, too - ranging from stylish clubs accompanied by beautiful ballrooms to dark, dingy basements.
And why the nickname ‘Speakeasy’? It’s thought to be about how quietly you had to speak the password to gain entry to avoid being caught by law enforcement!
You might be familiar with Speakeasy-style bars today, which exist today legally and purely for fun - usually with live jazz bands, delicious cocktails, and probably a retro interior to boot!
And what of the impact of Prohibition on how people drank? Well, as you can imagine, most of the illegal moonshine being made tasted pretty unpleasant. This forced bartenders to invent creative cocktails that would make bathtub gin palatable to fashionable society (and if you want to make your own bathtub gin - check out this video). Every cloud, we say…
On the 5th December 1933, the ‘noble experiment’ was repealed, (some may say an early Christmas present!) - making the 18th Amendment the only constitutional amendment ever to be repealed. Prohibition hadn’t really worked: it didn’t stop people drinking or solve any of the crime or health or problems it hoped it would.
However, the Prohibition-era left a lasting impression on the history of bars, drinking culture, and cocktails. Firstly, it created a craft cocktail phenomenon, (you can learn how to make these delicious cocktails below), a big love for speakeasies (hence bars trying to replicate the vibe and experience to this day), - and a whole new appreciation of enjoying drinking without getting caught or told off!
So if you want a taste of the Prohibition, but this time with better tasting gin, look no further. We say it’s time for the twenties to roar again, so try these popular Prohibition-era cocktail recipes below (and don’t miss this lush lemony one, named the Bee's Knees)…
If you're looking for some cocktail inspiration for your next Gatsby/prohibition party, this is a great place to start!
First originating in the Detroit Athletics Club in the early 1920s, this green and gorgeous cocktail faded into obscurity after Prohibition – that is, until it was rediscovered during the 2000s cocktail renaissance.
20ml gin
20ml lime juice
20ml maraschino liqueur
20ml green chartreuse
Twist of lime peel or maraschino cherry, to garnish
Add the gin, lime juice, maraschino liqueur and chartreuse to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish to serve.
The first example of this shows up in Harry Craddocks infamous prohibiton era guide, '“The Savoy Cocktail Book” and many of todays modern cocktails can trace their inspiration back to this little bible. The cocktail’s cheeky name apparently comes from its blend of ingredients, supposed to be strong enough to wake the dead!
25ml gin
25ml triple sec
25ml Lillet Blanc
25ml lemon juice
1 tsp Absinthe
Combine all the ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake and then strain into a chilled cocktail coupe. Garnish with a twist of lemon or orange peel.
Originally, the Rickey was made with bourbon, but during the 1920s aged liquors were hard to come by. Bathtub gins were easier to source, and the Gin Rickey soon became a favourite of F. Scott Fitzgerald, who referenced the cocktail in The Great Gatsby.
50ml gin
15ml lime juice
50ml soda water
Lime wheel, to garnish (try our super easy lime garnish pack)
Add all the ingredients to a rocks glass and stir.
This cocktail was invented by Harry MacElhone, owner of Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, in 1920. It soon crossed the Atlantic, gaining popularity in Prohibition-era America.
40ml gin
40ml orange juice
1 tsp grenadine syrup
½ tsp absinthe
Orange twist, to garnish
Add all your ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a coupe or martini glass and garnish.
