ProhibitionDenver

The Vieux Carré remains one of the most underrated classics in the cocktail world. While everyone orders Manhattans and Old Fashioneds, this sophisticated New Orleans creation quietly delivers more complexity and character than either of those crowd-pleasers. I spent three months perfecting my technique with this drink after discovering it at the Carousel Bar in … Read more

The Aviation cocktail stands as one of the most visually striking classic cocktails, with its signature pale violet-blue color and delicate floral profile. This pre-Prohibition gem has experienced a remarkable revival in the craft cocktail renaissance of , captivating both home bartenders and professionals alike. In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to … Read more

Few beverages in American history carry as much cultural weight as the mint julep. For nearly a century, this deceptively simple cocktail has been the unofficial anthem of a single spring Saturday in May, served in silver cups across the manicured grounds of Churchill Downs as thoroughbreds thunder past the Twin Spires. But the story … Read more

If you have ever stood in a liquor store aisle staring at a bourbon bottle wondering what half the words mean, you are not alone. Bourbon labels contain a specific language that takes most people years to figure out. I have spent countless evenings decoding labels for friends who could not understand why one bottle … Read more

Whiskey should be aged for a minimum of 2 years to be called straight whiskey, though most quality expressions spend 4 to 12 years in barrels. The truth about whiskey aging is more complex than the number on the label suggests. I spent months talking to distillers and researching regulations to understand what age statements … Read more

Bourbon lovers talk about the barrel like it’s a living, breathing thing — and in a way, it is. From the moment a freshly cut American white oak stave enters the cooperage to the day a distiller fills it with new-make spirit, the barrel does more work than almost any other ingredient in the bottle. … Read more

The Corpse Reviver No 2 is one of those rare Prohibition-era cocktails that actually lives up to its legendary status. I have made this drink at home over 200 times since first discovering it in Harry Craddock’s Savoy Cocktail Book, and I still get excited every time I shake one up. It is a perfect … Read more

Step into any modern craft cocktail bar, and you’ll notice something fascinating. We’re still speaking the language of the speakeasy. That 1920s slang your great-grandparents used? It’s alive and well in today’s best bars. As someone who’s spent years studying cocktail culture and Prohibition history, I’ve found that understanding this vocabulary does more than just … Read more

The night was cold on Lake Michigan in February 1925 when Bill McCoy’s fishing boat slipped past the coast guard cutters, its hull stuffed with $2 million worth of Canadian whiskey. He wouldn’t cut the ropes and scatter the evidence like the amateurs do. McCoy ran his operation like a business, and for fifteen years, … Read more

The Paper Plane cocktail has become one of my go-to drinks when I want to impress guests without overcomplicating things. This modern classic combines bourbon, Italian bitters, and citrus in perfect harmony. In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to make a Paper Plane cocktail at home, from selecting the right ingredients to … Read more