prohibition

We've hit a major milestone in American beer history: As of 2015, the U.S. had 4,269 breweries — more breweries than ever before, finally beating the 1873 record, according to the Brewers Association. The thing is, this data is presented without some fairly necessary historical context. In 1873, Ulysses S. Grant was beginning his second term in office as president of the United States,…

In addition to establishing Prohibition, the Volstead Act allowed physicians to prescribe alcohol.[/caption] For generations, the wheels of progress in Washington, D.C., have occasionally been greased with alcohol. From cloakroom deals cut over a tumbler of scotch to lobbyists plying their trade while cracking open a bottle of fine wine in one of the capital’s…

When you think of the quintessential American spirit, what comes to mind? From a historical standpoint, rye whiskey has to be a leading contender. As author Bryce Bauer relates in his new book, Gentlemen Bootleggers: The True Story of Templeton Rye, Bootleggers, and a Small Town in Cahoots, the story of rye is essentially the…

For many who would consider it blasphemy to put a good single malt whisky into a cocktail, there are several alternatives. New to the pack is Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition whisky. What’s unique about this blend is that it takes a cut from grain and Speyside single-malt whiskies and combines them into a single 100-proof…

While there are few places more famous for moonshining, the state of Mississippi has had just one legal distillery operation in the past century. Cathead Vodka was co-founded by a pair of college buddies with a longtime dream, who just a few years ago, in 2010 to be exact, pooled their knowledge of the liquor…

Storied Sips, a new book illustrated by Danish artist Poul Lange, tells the stories behind some of the world's most beloved classic cocktails. Author Erica Duecy chronicles 200 years of tending bar and the resulting book of tales are a must-read for any cocktail aficionado. First up, a simple but strong libation from The Detroit…

So, you think your favorite bartender is impressive because he makes his own bitters and can rattle off a couple classic cocktails you’ve never heard of? Cool, but has homeboy ever poured you a sip of history? A handful of bars around the country are specializing in truly antique drinks — as in, made with…

You probably needed a stiff drink at the end of the last season of Boardwalk Empire. Now that the new season is underway, we’re ready to offer you 10. Our anti-hero Nucky Thompson is leaner and meaner – and Prohibition-era Atlantic City is thirstier – than ever. There would have been a fair share of…

Way before you had heard of HBO's Boardwalk Empire or decided that your new drink of choice was a sidecar, Employees Only in the West Village was mixing up deluxe prohibition-era cocktails. We’ve got our hands on their latest concoction: The Eastern Smash. Employees’ principal bartender, Dev Johnson, took Bombay Sapphire’s newest gin — Bombay…

In 1919, the 18th Amendment was passed, clearing the way for 13 years of the folly that was Prohibition. The Noble Experiment lasted from 1920 to 1933. During this time, it was illegal to sell alcohol, so people completely stopped drinking. Yeah, right. They actually drank more than ever, even though the cocktails weren’t exactly…

To celebrate the season premiere of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire on Sunday, September 25, Templeton Rye created this exclusive Boardwalk Empire viewing party guide, complete with all the essentials you need to plan and host your own 1920s-inspired get-together. No party is complete without a signature cocktail, and we all know that Nucky’s favorite spirit was…