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It was 1:30 am on a Saturday night. As I was walking the streets of NYC with my friends, incredibly drunk, we reached a door which read AB. We knocked on the door and waited. Soon, a man came to greet us at the door. “Welcome to Attaboy, one of the world’s best speakeasy bars. Do you have a reservation?”
I fell in love with the concept of speakeasies when I moved to NYC in 2016 through a book called Speakeasy: The Employees Only Guide. Its history fascinated me. This article explores how one law changed the drinking culture in the US, empowered women, and led to the rise of cocktail culture in America.
The Prohibition Experiment: A Nation Gone Dry
In the early 1920s, the United States embarked on a bold experiment: a nationwide ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages1Lerner, Michael A. Dry Manhattan: Prohibition in New York City. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2007.. The law, known as Prohibition, was a response to the widespread social problems attributed to alcohol consumption.
Did the law pass? Yes. How? I am not sure.
The Volstead Act was passed with a majority in the House and the Senate as the 18th Amendment between 1920-19332Hobart, G. S. (1923). The Volstead Act. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 109, 85–101. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1014996.. It defined the types of alcoholic beverages that were prohibited in the US. Not all alcohol was banned, for example, the religious use of wine was still permitted.
Prohibition came into force at 12:00:01 am on January 17, 1920, and the first documented infringement of the Volstead Act occurred in Chicago on January 17, 1920, at 12:59 am. According to police reports, six armed men stole $100,000 worth of “medicinal” whiskey from two freight-train cars.
But did Prohibition succeed in curbing America’s thirst for alcohol? Quite the opposite. Instead, it gave birth to an underground drinking scene, characterized by hidden bars, secret passwords, and innovative cocktails.
Bootlegging and Bathtub Gin: The Unintended Consequences of Prohibition
When the Volstead Act enforced Prohibition in 1920, Americans found creative ways to continue drinking. Bootlegging, which literally means hiding something illegal in the top part of a tall boot, became common. Obviously, people were bootlegging flasks of alcohol.
Prohibition also led to the creation of bathtub gin, a homebrewed spirit concocted in bathtubs to meet the growing demand for alcohol which could be easily disposed of in case of a raid.
On a side note, organized crime in America exploded because of bootlegging. Al Capone, leader of the Chicago Outfit, made an estimated $60 million a year supplying illegal liquors in the prohibition era3Capone’s Life & History..
Unfortunately, the quality of bootlegged alcohol was often dubious, and sometimes downright dangerous. To mask the taste of poorly distilled spirits, bartenders at secret bars known as speakeasies began inventing new cocktails that combined alcohol with fruit juices, syrups, and other flavourings. Hello, speakeasy bars of the 1920s!
Speakeasies: The Worst Kept Secret of Prohibition
Speakeasies were hidden bars that operated during Prohibition, often tucked away in basements, apartments, or behind storefronts. To gain entry, patrons needed to know the secret password or be vouched for by a trusted customer.
Why are they called a speakeasy? A common American anecdote traces the term to saloon owner Kate Hester, who ran an unlicensed bar in the 1880s in McKeesport. She would yell at her rowdy patrons, “Speak easy, boys! Speak easy”4This is from a book called Bootleggers and Beer Barons of the Prohibition Era..
These illicit establishments were a far cry from the saloons and bars that had been popular before Prohibition. They featured live jazz music, dancing, and a diverse clientele that included men and women of various races and social classes. This mixing of different groups helped break down some of the social barriers that had previously separated Americans.
Cocktail Culture: A Legacy of Prohibition
The rise of speakeasies and the need to disguise the taste of bootlegged alcohol led to the invention of many iconic cocktails we enjoy today. Classic drinks like the Old Fashioned, Sidecar, and Gin Rickey were all born during the Prohibition era, as bartenders sought to create delicious concoctions that would please their discerning patrons.
Old Fashioned (my favourite cocktail) was allegedly reinvented during the prohibition era with the addition of orange zest or cherry to reduce the rough taste of bootlegged whisky5Brief history of the Old Fashioned..
These innovative mixologists laid the groundwork for the modern cocktail renaissance, inspiring a new generation of bartenders to push the boundaries of flavour and presentation.
In any well-ordered establishment, the barkeeper was expected to be able not only to concoct the traditional punches, cobblers, slings, and cocktails but also to create new, individualized drinks to suit the taste of particular customers.
David Wondrich, Imbibe!: From Absinthe Cocktail to Whiskey Smash
A Lasting Impact: How Prohibition Changed America
As the Prohibition Era neared its end, the ubiquity of speakeasies, the ruthlessness of crime syndicates fighting for control over the booze business, the skyrocketing unemployment, and the desperate need for tax revenue following the 1929 Wall Street market crash all led to America’s growing doubts about the 18th Amendment.
When the 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition in 1933, it signalled the end of the wild speakeasy days and the dawn of regulated, licensed bars – fewer in number and subject to federal oversight and taxes.
While Prohibition was ultimately repealed in 1933, its impact on American culture was profound and long-lasting6Okrent, Daniel. Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition. New York: Scribner, 2010.
Speakeasies played a crucial role in the desegregation of public drinking spaces, and the birth of cocktail culture has left a lasting legacy on the beverage industry. Furthermore, Prohibition helped to empower women, as they began to frequent these hidden bars and enjoyed newfound freedoms in social settings.
The Role of Women in Speakeasies: Breaking Social Barriers
During the Prohibition Era, women played a significant role in the rise of speakeasies. Secret bars allowed women the opportunity to socialize and drink in public, an activity often frowned upon in traditional saloons before Prohibition. As a result, speakeasies became a platform for social change and gender equality, where women could enjoy newfound liberties and challenge societal norms.
The Jazz Age and Speakeasies: A Perfect Match
The Prohibition Era also coincided with the rise of jazz music, which found a natural home in speakeasies. These hidden bars offered live entertainment to attract patrons, and jazz bands were in high demand. The vibrant atmosphere and lively music contributed to the sense of excitement and rebellion that characterized the Roaring Twenties, giving birth to a golden age of American culture.
Iconic Speakeasies of the Past and Present
Some speakeasies from the Prohibition Era have endured the test of time and still operate today, offering a glimpse into the past. A few notable examples include New York City’s William Barnacle Tavern, which serves absinthe-based cocktails, and Chicago’s Green Mill, a historic jazz club once frequented by Al Capone himself. These establishments, along with modern speakeasy-themed bars, continue to celebrate the fascinating history and legacy of the Prohibition Era.
If you are ever in New York City, here’s my list of favourite speakeasy bars in NYC and speakeasy bars in the Upper East Side.
Conclusion: A Lasting Legacy
The Prohibition Era was a time of great change and innovation in America. Speakeasies played a pivotal role in transforming the nation’s drinking culture, promoting social equality, and giving birth to the modern cocktail. Today, we can still see the lasting impact of Prohibition in the thriving cocktail scene, the continued appreciation of jazz music, and the enduring allure of speakeasy bars.
So, the next time you find yourself in a new city, seek out a speakeasy and enjoy a piece of history with a carefully crafted cocktail in hand🥃.
Footnotes:
- 1Lerner, Michael A. Dry Manhattan: Prohibition in New York City. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2007.
- 2Hobart, G. S. (1923). The Volstead Act. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 109, 85–101. http://www.jstor.org/stable/1014996.
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- 4This is from a book called Bootleggers and Beer Barons of the Prohibition Era.
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- 6Okrent, Daniel. Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition. New York: Scribner, 2010
