The 18th Amendment, which banned production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages, went into effect on January 17, 1920, and stayed in effect for thirteen years. Joseph Magnus, like many other distillers across the United States, silenced his stills when Prohibition began, but the growing cocktail craze was anything but quiet.
Not long before Prohibition, the United States was entering the “Golden Age of Cocktails.” Cocktail recipes were a fairly new concept, but a very popular one. Bartenders were becoming celebrities, bars were becoming destinations, and socialites were elevating their social status by commissioning new cocktails for wild parties and balls. Did people still drink cocktails during Prohibition? Absolutely, yes. Prohibition era cocktails gained popularity in part through notoriety, and have become known as some of the best and most inventive cocktails in the world. In the speakeasies of a dry nation and in the luxury hotel bar lounges of Europe, a new chapter of mixology was being written.
Here are 5 of our favorite Prohibition era cocktails from the 1920s to craft in 2023:
Bee’s Knees
The Bee’s Knees is one of the most well-known Prohibition era cocktails, but its exact origin remains a mystery. Was it crafted by a Parisian bartender? Or an American Titanic survivor turned popular socialite? History only knows. But the combination of gin, lemon juice, and honey likely became popular during Prohibition due to its ability to mask rough, bootleg gin.
- 2 oz Joseph Magnus Vigilant Navy Strength Gin
- .75 oz lemon juice
- .5 oz honey syrup
- Lemon twist, garnish
Add Joseph Magnus Vigilant Navy Strength Gin, lemon juice, and honey syrup into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon twist.
See the full recipe and instructions here.
Monkey Gland
With a name like Monkey Gland, you know this Prohibition era cocktail is going to be a wild ride. Why was it called the Monkey Gland? A little bit of pseudo-science concerning the longevity benefits of monkey testicles lent this gin, grenadine, and absinthe its name.
- 1.5 oz Joseph Magnus Vigilant District Dry Gin
- 1.5 oz orange juice
- 1 tsp grenadine
- 1 tsp simple syrup
- 1 tsp absinthe
Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass.
See the full recipe and instructions here.
Scofflaw
The Scofflaw was invented in Paris at Harry’s New York Bar in the mid 1920s. Its name was a clever jab at the term coined by Prohibitionist Delcevare King to describe “lawless drinkers.” This Prohibition era cocktail was originally made with rye whiskey, but straight bourbon whiskey adds a rich, slightly sweet element when combined with the vermouth and grenadine.
- 2 oz Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- 1 oz dry vermouth
- .25 oz lemon juice
- 1 to 2 dashes grenadine
- 1 dash orange bitters
Combine Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon Whiskey, dry vermouth, lemon juice, grenadine, and orange bitters in a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
See the full recipe and instructions here.
The Last Word
Should you visit a swanky cocktail bar today, you may find The Last Word on the menu. This cocktail was one of the few invented in the years just before Prohibition officially began. It was all but forgotten until the cocktail revitalization movement of the 2010s brought the catalog of Prohibition era cocktails back to popularity.
- .75 oz Joseph Magnus Vigilant District Dry Gin
- .75 oz green chartreuse
- .75 oz maraschino liqueur
- .75 oz lime juice, freshly squeezed
- Brandied cherry, garnish
Combine Joseph Magnus Vigilant District Dry Gin, green chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry.
See the full recipe and instructions here.
The Southside
It doesn’t get more Prohibition-themed than a cocktail rumored to be Al Capone’s favorite. Possibly named in reference to the territory of southern Chicago that Capone’s gang held, this is a relative of the pre-Prohibition mojito.
- 6 mint leaves
- 2 oz Joseph Magnus Vigilant District Dry Gin
- .5 oz lime juice
- .5 oz lemon juice
- .5 oz simple syrup or maple syrup
- Lemon twist, garnish
- Mint leaves, garnish
Add mint leaves to a cocktail shaker and muddle. Add Joseph Magnus Vigilant District Dry Gin, lemon juice, lime juice, and syrup to a cocktail shaker. Fill it with ice and shake until cold. Strain the drink into chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an additional mint leaf (smack it between your hands to release the oils) and a lemon twist.
See the full recipe and instructions here.
Which Prohibition era cocktails are you looking forward to crafting? Share your favorite prohibition era cocktails with us on social media using #josamagnus. Find more recipes and content on our Instagram or Facebook channels and our premium spirits at a store near you. Join our mailing list to stay up to date with the latest from Jos. A. Magnus.
