The Dry Era Ends — Repeal Day

To paraphrase President Franklin Roosevelt’s description of the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 5, 1933 is a date that will live in awesomeness.  On that day the 21st Amendment became official, Prohibition ended, and once again Americans could drink legally.

Embarking on my journey as a cocktail consultant, I recently had the honor of designing a cocktail menu for my friend Chuck’s company holiday party. The party’s theme is a 1920s speakeasy.  Of course many speakeasies flourished during Prohibition, which lasted from 1919 to 1933. Keeping these things in mind, here’s what I recommended:

Scofflaw — This is the perfect cocktail for Repeal Day.  Besides being a great drink (one of my favorites), both the cocktail and the word originated during Prohibition.

Boulevardier — As the name might suggest, it came out of France (specifically Paris) in the 1920s.  Even better, it only has three ingredients and is easy to make.

Mary Pickford — An American bartender created this in Havana during the 1920s and named it for the first famous Hollywood actress.  Don’t let its light and refreshing taste fool you.

Hanky Panky — I love the name of this one. Like the Scofflaw, Boulevardier, and Mary Pickford, it came about during the 1920s. The history behind it is quite interesting, as a lady bartender created it during a time when lady bartenders were rare.

Man O’War —  Named for a champion racehorse at the beginning of the 1920s.  Like the other cocktails in this list, it’s tasty, assertive, and effective.

Racketeer — There were plenty of these people during Prohibition (Al Capone probably is the most famous one).  Fair warning — the drink is very strong, and it’s worth every last sip.

So grab a cocktail, celebrate the end of Prohibition, and revel in the ability to drink legally!  Cheers to Repeal Day!