Celebrate the Repeal of Prohibition!

On December 5th, 1933, the 21st amendment was ratified by Franklin D. Roosevelt. This 21st amendment repealed the 18th amendment, ending the nationwide prohibition of alcohol. Needless to say, this gave many Americans something to celebrate and you can re-live their excitement by making these prohibition era drinks in honor of the end of prohibition!

Gin Rickey

Fun Fact: The original Rickey likely didn’t use gin at all, but instead bourbon or whiskey. Gin became popular during the prohibition era because it could easily be made in a bathtub!

Old Fashioned

Fun Fact: This drink is in fact very old. People have been drinking the Old Fashioned in the United States since 1806! Learn more about it here!

French 75

Fun Fact: This drink is named after the World War I French 75-milimeter field gun. The gun could fire 15 rounds per minute which was outstanding for the day.

Sidecar

Fun Fact: This drink is rumored to be named after a World War I American Army captain who was known for getting a ride to the local bar in his friend’s motorcycle sidecar.

Bee’s Knees

Fun Fact: Calling something the “bee’s knee’s” was a highly flattering compliment during the prohibition era. Other than that, nothing else is known about the history of this classic drink!

Southside

Fun Fact: There is dispute about whether this popular drink originated in a Southside New York City speakeasy or one in Southside Chicago!

Mary Pickford

Fun Fact: This drink was named after “America’s Sweetheart”. The recipe was created in the 1920’s by a Cuban bartender in a bar where Pickford was shooting a film.

Highball

Fun Fact: This drink was named after the nineteenth century railroad signal where a single ball raised on wires above the track meant a train could pass through the station without stopping.