December 3, 2024
Every year on December 5th, we raise a glass to the glorious end of America’s “great experiment”, otherwise known as Prohibition. Thirteen years of a nationwide alcohol ban was bound to leave a bitter stain, but as history will tell, it paved the way for even more appreciation of cocktail culture and whiskey distillation.
The story starts on January 16, 1919, when the 18th Amendment to the US Constitution banned the “manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors,” essentially shutting down all beverage alcohol production – not to mention, the social culture that had risen around it. According to the act’s proponents, this would put an end to crime, poverty, drunkenness, and a swath of other ills deemed the fault of alcohol.
But as we all know, you can’t put a genie back into its bottle. Soon enough, folks found clandestine solutions to quench their thirst. Bootlegging, the illegal trade of alcohol, ran rampant. Bartenders and business owners evaded arrest by telling patrons to “speak easy” when ordering at bars, so as to not draw unwanted attention when ordering alcohol – thus the popularization of speakeasy bars.
Even New York’s secret network of underground tunnels were used for smuggling alcohol. Some of these rum-runner tunnels lead directly beneath our distillery in SoHo, and others go as far north as Riverside Park. While the tunnels near Great Jones Distilling Co. aren’t publicly accessible, our very own speakeasy lives below street level as a secret tasting room designed for elevated cocktails and whiskey sampling. You can actually rent the historic space for private events, or wait for exclusive distillery events to be announced.
Back to the story… In 1929, the stock market crashed and public thirst only intensified. The Great Depression made the laws largely unenforceable, leading to their repeal in December 1933.
Prohibition and Cocktail Culture
Suffice it to say, if you wanted a drink during prohibition, you could get one. However, spirit quality was iffy at best because it was unregulated. Cocktails and mixed drinks became more popular as they were a great way to disguise poor-quality spirits. Many popular cocktails of the day faded into history after prohibition. However, the resurgence of cocktail culture in recent years has brought them back, pairing pre-prohibition drinks with the speakeasy vibe and elevating mixology to new levels.
As Manhattan’s first legal whiskey distillery in NYC since Prohibition, Great Jones Distilling Co. has a unique place in the pantheon of New York’s cocktail scene. With each craft cocktail and whiskey produced, we celebrate our city’s rich history and the joy of Repeal. Certainly, there is no better place to try authentic Prohibition-era cocktails and immerse yourself in a world out of time. From Prohibition Hour and great eats in our restaurant to distillery tours and curated experiences, we celebrate Repeal Day every day with whiskey tastings, elevated cocktails, and a vibe imbued with the rebellious spirit of 1920s New York.
Celebrate Repeal Day and Prohibition Style at Home
Repeal Day is December 5, and, in our opinion, it deserves to be recognized as a national holiday in its own right. Let’s celebrate!
If you wonder how to celebrate Repeal Day, we’ve got some tips and suggestions to help you organize a Prohibition-era-themed Repeal Day party at home. With the right tools, accessories, and ingredients, it’s easy to create a roaring 20s-themed soiree that’s sure to become the high point of the holiday season.
Bar Accessories
No home bar is complete without the right tools! Our Great Jones barware is an elegant addition to any Repeal Day shindig.
Cocktail Shaker
This gorgeous heavyweight cobbler has a large capacity, perfect for making multiple drinks at once.
Balance is the key to making perfect cocktails. Measure your ingredients with precision and style with our weighted gold jigger.
There is no better mixing glass for stirred cocktails than this gorgeous cut crystal beauty.
Of course, you’ll need a bar spoon to go with that mixing glass.
Strain your shaken or stirred cocktails like a pro with our Gold Hawthorne Strainer.
The most versatile and essential glass on the back bar as they are perfect for cocktails or whiskey, served neat or on the rocks.
BACK BAR ESSENTIALS
Stock the bar with Great Jones Bourbon and rye to take your cocktails to the next level.
Great Jones Straight Bourbon is 100% New York. Crafted in small batches using locally sourced ingredients, produced at our Manhattan distillery, and aged to perfection in American oak barrels. If you want to learn more, here is everything you need to know about Bourbon. It’s definitely the ideal base ingredient for an Old Fashioned or a Classic Manhattan.
Great Jones Rye Whiskey is made from 100% New York-grown rye, resulting in a spirit replete with spicy notes and hints of black pepper and chocolate malt. There’s no better spirit to make a Sazerac, a prohibition-era cocktail similar to an Old Fashioned that uses rye instead of bourbon and an Absinthe rinse to add tang to the palate.
COCKTAILS
Nothing evokes the speakeasy vibe like a Great Jones Classic Old Fashioned. Here’s how to make it at home (makes one drink).
In a rocks glass, add:
- 1 sugar cube (or ½ tsp sugar)
- 1 dash of orange bitters
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
Add a splash of club soda and crush it all together with a muddler. Add 2 oz Great Jones Straight Bourbon, a large ice cube, and an orange peel for garnish.
Are You Ready for Repeal?
If you’re in Manhattan this December, be sure to drop by Great Jones Distilling Co. Our NYC distillery is the ultimate destination for anyone looking to celebrate Repeal Day and experience Prohibition-era cocktails in an authentic, speakeasy-styled historic setting.
Even if you’re not a New York local, you can plan a celebration all your own with the right tools and ingredients from our online store.
And the 20s fashion? We’ll leave that up to you.
Make a reservation or book a tour today, and let’s toast to Repeal Day!