ProhibitionDenver

On the frigid morning of January 17, 1920, the United States embarked on one of its most ambitious social experiments: the nationwide ban on alcoholic beverages. Within mere weeks, a sophisticated underground economy emerged to satisfy the insatiable American demand for whiskey, rum, and Scotch. This was the birth of rum running, an illicit industry … Read more

The Last Word cocktail is a pre-Prohibition classic built on an elegantly simple formula: equal parts gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime juice. This bright green drink delivers a perfect balance of herbal complexity, tart citrus, and subtle sweetness that has captivated bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts for over a century. In this guide, … Read more

The Ramos Gin Fizz is legendary. This creamy, cloud-like cocktail with its towering meringue head has been impressing drinkers since 1888. But there is a dark side to this classic New Orleans creation. Making one the traditional way means shaking vigorously for several minutes. Your arms burn. Your shoulders ache. By the time you finish, … Read more

I remember the first time I tasted American Single Malt. It was nothing like the Scotch I had grown comfortable with. The flavors were bolder, more experimental, almost rebellious. That bottle changed how I think about whiskey entirely. If you are curious about American Single Malt Whiskey, you are in the right place. This guide … Read more

Scotland’s whisky landscape is as diverse as its rugged terrain, with each production region imparting distinct characteristics into the spirit that has captivated drinkers for centuries. When exploring the world of single malt Scotch, understanding the differences between the major whisky-producing areas is essential for finding the expressions that match your palate. Whether you prefer … Read more

Standing in the whiskey aisle or gazing at a bourbon bar’s menu, you’ve likely spotted bottles labeled “small batch” and “single barrel” and wondered what these terms actually mean—and more importantly, how they affect what ends up in your glass. Let’s break it all down. Published on May 13, by Prohibition Denver What Does It … Read more

Standing in front of the tequila aisle can feel overwhelming. Bottle after bottle displays different colors, Spanish terms, and price points that seem to follow no obvious pattern. I spent years buying whatever was on sale until I learned that understanding the difference between blanco, reposado, and añejo tequila transforms not just what you buy, … Read more

When F. Scott Fitzgerald published The Great Gatsby in 1925, he captured an era of excess that he knew intimately. The champagne flows endlessly at Jay Gatsby’s parties. Whiskey appears at every social gathering. Yet beneath the glittering surface of cocktail glasses lies something darker – a mirror reflecting Fitzgerald’s own struggles with alcohol and … Read more

Walk into any whiskey bar today and you will see more American craft distillery names on the menu than ever before. The question I hear most from readers is simple: what actually makes a whiskey craft distillery in America today? The answer matters because the word “craft” gets thrown around constantly, and not everyone using … Read more