The best Prohibition-era cocktails and the history behind them...

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?

What was “Prohibition”?

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.

What is a 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!

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!