36 Pre-Prohibition Cocktails That Passed the Test of Time
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Discover 36 Pre-Prohibition cocktails that taste surprisingly fresh despite their advanced ages.
The history of cocktails is long and winding, spanning centuries on both sides of the pond. There were times when drinking was all the rage and other times when the mere act of consuming alcohol could land a drinker in jail.
America’s Prohibition, which lasted from 1920 to 1933, was a particularly restrictive period. However, the preceding years were filled with so many classic libations that the era is fondly referred to as the golden age of cocktails.
Fast forward to the present and the most iconic Pre-Prohibition-era cocktails haven’t lost any of their luster. Centenarian cocktails like the Old Fashioned and Negroni are more popular today than when they were at the time of their inception.
The aforementioned golden cocktail age shined brightly thanks to creativity and variety.
A compendium of drinks were crafted with liquors like bourbon, gin and rum in bars from Italy to New Orleans. Some Pre-Prohibition cocktails like the Bee’s Knees and Hanky Panky have fanciful names while others like the Aviation and Clover Club feature colors of the rainbow.
You can learn about the best Pre-Prohibition era cocktails in books like Jerry Thomas’ Bartenders Guide and Harry Johnson’s Bartenders’ Manual which were originally published in 1862 and 1882 respectively. However, the better approach involves crafting and drinking classic cocktails at home.
36 of the Best Pre-Prohibition Cocktails
1. Whiskey Sour
The Whiskey Sour ranks as one of the most popular drinks in the world. It's a pleasure to drink and a breeze to craft at home.
Whiskey Sour Recipe
2. Gin Sour
The Gin Sour tickles the tongue with clean flavors that are simultaneously sweet and sour. The classic gin cocktail is also super easy to craft at home in just a few minutes.
Gin Sour Recipe
3. Old Fashioned
A Bourbon Old Fashioned is one of the most classic of classic cocktails. Living up to its name, this classic cocktail is the opposite of new and trendy. It's also one of the most popular cocktails at bars and lounges in the USA and beyond.
Old Fashioned Recipe
4. Daiquiri
Leave any preconceptions about the Daiquiri behind when you follow this easy recipe. Cuba's most classic cocktail is a sophisticated summer sipper made with just three ingredients that you probably already have at home.
Daiquiri Recipe
5. Manhattan
Crafting a Manhattan at home is both easy and rewarding. You'll feel like you're at your favorite bar at 1 a.m. but without the drama.
Manhattan Recipe
6. Boulevardier
A Boulevardier cocktail is a Negroni crafted with bourbon instead of gin. The result is a drink that's both complex and highly sippable.
Boulevardier Recipe
7. Gimlet
The Gimlet cocktail is one of the easiest classic cocktails to craft at home. It's also one of the classiest.
Gimlet Recipe
8. Negroni
Unique for its deep red color and acerbic flavor, the classic Negroni packs a punch with equal parts of bitter Campari, dry gin and sweet vermouth.
Negroni Recipe
9. Bee’s Knees
The Bee's Knees is the cat's meow when it comes to classic cocktails. The three-ingredient gin-lemon cocktail is both sophisticated to sip and super easy to make at home.
Bee’s Knees Recipe
10. Clover Club
This Clover Club cocktail is simultaneously sweet and tart. It also has a frothy top that tickles the tongue.
Clover Club Recipe
11. Sazerac
The Sazerac may be one of the oldest cocktails in America, but the classic New Orleans drink is as relevant today as ever. In fact, it's the official drink in New Orleans.
Sazerac Recipe
12. Aviation
Don't be confused by its deep blue color. The Aviation cocktail is a serious cocktail for serious drinkers.
Aviation Recipe
13. Brooklyn
Brooklyn isn't just the most populated borough in New York City. It's also a Pre-Prohibition cocktail that sips like a dream. You may forget about the other four boroughs before you get to the bottom of the glass.
Brooklyn Recipe
14. Tom Collins
Simultaneously sweet and tart, the Tom Collins cocktail is a delightful drink that tastes like spiked lemonade. It’s also super simple to craft at home with just a few ingredients.
Tom Collins Recipe
15. Bijou
The Bijou cocktail is a bold and boozy jewel that we covet all year long, but especially during the holidays. The opposite of a lightweight, this sparkly amber cocktail adds a festive flair to any drinking session.
Bijou Recipe
16. Bronx
Move over Manhattan! The Bronx isn't just one of New York City's most culturally diverse boroughs. It's also a drink that blends gin with orange juice and two different vermouths.
Bronx Recipe
17. Grasshopper
More than just a novelty drink imbibed at Christmas parties and on St. Patrick's Day, the Grasshopper cocktail is a sweet pre-prohibition classic with a history rooted in New Orleans. And yes, it's green. Very green.
Grasshopper Recipe
18. Corpse Reviver No. 2
The Corpse Reviver No. 2 tastes like a dream despite its nightmare-inducing name. Learn the history behind this ghoulishly delightful gin cocktail and then craft one at home in just five minutes.
Corpse Reviver No. 2 Recipe
19. Milk Punch
Milk Punch is a decadent New Orleans cocktail that's ideal to serve with brunch or any time when you want the good times to roll.
Milk Punch Recipe
20. Absinthe Frappé
The Absinthe Frappé, a classic New Orleans cocktail, is timeless. However, the boozy, green, anise-flavored beverage requires a special palate. See if you're up to the taste challenge.
Absinthe Frappé Recipe
21. Whiskey Highball
Treat yourself to a timeless yet modern Whiskey Highball. The two-ingredient cocktail has been around for centuries, but it tastes as fresh as ever.
Whiskey Highball Recipe
22. Martinez
You probably aren't familiar with the Martinez unless you're either a cocktail connoisseur or a history buff. But once you try this classic gin drink, you'll surely be a fan. Follow this easy cocktail recipe and craft one at home in just five minutes.
Martinez Recipe
23. White Lady
Proving that you shouldn't judge a cocktail by its name, the White Lady cocktail is a classic drink that's appropriate for multicultural cocktail connoisseurs.
White Lady Recipe
24. Brandy Crusta Recipe
Named after it's main ingredient and its crunchy, sugary rim, the Brandy Crusta is a timeless New Orleans cocktail. It's also sweet, sour and sophisticated.
Brandy Crusta Recipe
25. New York Sour
The New York Sour takes the classic Whiskey Sour to a new level by adding a red wine float. This ruby layer provides a fruity zing plus a stripe of elegance.
New York Sour Recipe
26. Pisco Sour
The Pisco Sour's flavors will transport you to South America. Despite its frothy top layer and complex flavors, it's surprisingly easy to craft at home.
Pisco Sour Recipe
27. Tipperary
It may be a 'long way to Tipperary' but the journey to craft a Tipperary cocktail is short and sweet. When you follow this easy recipe, you'll be sipping the potent classic cocktail in mere minutes.
Tipperary Recipe
28. Brandy Alexander
Rich and strong, this boozy Brandy Alexander recipe ramps up the cognac to create a better beverage. Craft one at home in just five minutes if you can handle it.
Brandy Alexander Recipe
29. La Louisiane
La Louisiane is a classic cocktail that lives under the radar despite its fabulous flavor. Give it a try and find out if the potent potable ranks as your favorite New Orleans cocktail.
La Louisiane Recipe
30. Ward 8
The Ward 8 cocktail isn't as famous as its cousin, the Whiskey Sour, but it should be. Simultaneously sweet and spicy, this Pre-Prohibition potent potable is as easy to sip as it is to craft.
Ward 8 Recipe
31. Hanky Panky
Just thinking about the Hanky Panky cocktail makes us smile beyond its giggle-inducing name. This classic cocktail takes the gin martini to exciting levels with two magical dashes of Fernet-Branca.
Hanky Panky Recipe
32. Ramos Gin Fizz
The Ramos Gin Fizz is a quintessential New Orleans cocktail. It's royalty in the Louisiana city where the good times roll all year long but especially during Mardi Gras.
Ramos Gin Fizz Recipe
33. Whiskey Smash
The Whiskey Smash is a refreshing Pre-Prohibition cocktail that's more sweet than sour. It's also super easy to craft at home with just a handful of ingredients.
Whiskey Smash Recipe
34. Singapore Sling
The Singapore Sling is a fruity and fun cocktail that's sweet, herbaceous and tart. This Pre-Prohibition cocktail is also easy to make at home despite its long laundry list of ingredients.
Singapore Sling Recipe
35. Rob Roy
Essentially a Manhattan that's crafted with scotch instead of bourbon or rye, the Rob Roy is a classic cocktail that's sweet, smoky and sophisticated.
Rob Roy Recipe
36. Last Word
Don't underestimate the Last Word cocktail. Despite its short ingredient list and pale green hue, the Pre-Prohibition potable is a sophisticated sipper that deserves a seat at the table.
Last Word Recipe
💡 Frequently Asked Questions
What are Pre-Prohibition cocktails?
Pre-Prohibition cocktails are cocktails that were invented prior to America’s Prohibition.
When was America’s Prohibition?
America’s Prohibition started in 1920 and ended in 1933.
What are the most iconic Pre-Prohibition cocktails?
Iconic Pre-Prohibition cocktails include the Daiquiri, Martini and Old Fashioned.
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