The Spirit World

This Repeal Day is a special one. It has been 75 years since Prohibition ended an on this December 5th there are plenty of celebrations planned throughout the United States. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing plenty of flapper dresses and fedoras as well as a plethora of classic cocktail drink specials this Friday - hopefully they would go back to 1933 prices, but I doubt it.

When the liquor began to flow 75 years ago one of the first spirits to make it back to the market was Dewar’s Scotch and they like to remind us of that still. They have gone so far as to create a separate website - www.DewarsRepealDay.com - and it’s a great place to fill your head with Repeal Day propaganda and fun party ideas, all with the slogan to “Stay Wet.”

For this very special anniversary of Repeal Day, here are a few Prohibition-era drinks…

Flapper - a fun rum martini in the spirit of the era.

• 1 1/2 oz Jamaican rum
• 1 1/2 oz dry vermouth
• 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
• 1 tsp sugar syrup

Shake and strain into a cocktail glass, garnishing with a cherry and orange slice.

The Fireside - often served by FDR at the White House because the “most important hour of the day…..the cocktail hour.”

• 1 1/4 oz Dry Gin
• 1/4 oz of sweet and dry vermouth
• 1/2 oz each of orange, lemon, lime and pineapple juice

Shake and strain into a cocktail glass.

Barbary Coast - when times were tough and some spirits less than desirable, the mixes got interesting, but this one’s pretty good and a reason to use that bottle of Dewar’s for pure authenticity, I’d pass on the bathtub gin though.

• 3/4 oz blended Scotch
• 3/4 oz gin
• 3/4 oz crème de cacao
• 3/4 oz heavy cream

Shake and strain into a cocktail glass.

Sidecar - this French creation was the definitive cocktail during “the drought” and is still a favorite.

• 1 1/2 oz Cognac
• 3/4 oz Cointreau
• 1/4 oz lemon juice

Shake and strain into a sugar-rimmed cocktail glass.

More Prohibition and Repeal info…

• The Story of The US Prohibition of Alcohol
• ProhibitionRepeal.com