While the intention was to reduce the consumption of alcohol by eliminating businesses that manufactured, distributed and sold it, the plan backfired. The Prohibition Era is most often associated with gangsters, bootleggers, speakeasies, and rum runners. The great heyday for creative cocktails was Prohibition, the 13 year span (1920-1933) where the allure of outlaw liquor inspired waves of colorful concoctions that offered glamour and above all, good taste. Few could tolerate the bad taste of the “bathtub gin”, a homemade, often poorly made, gin that was preferably served in a bottle so tall that it could not be mixed with water from a sink tap, so was mixed in a bathtub instead. Though the phrase references gin specifically, it came to be used as a general term for any type of cheap homemade booze. Bartenders in speakeasies blended ounces of it with various mixers from bitters to soda pop, juices and fruit garnishes, to hide the flavor of the poorly made alcohol. Mixed drinks predate Prohibition, they were necessary during that time period and the speakeasies made the cocktail fashionable. Zipps will be one of many exhibitors to share a fun filled night of education, from this chaotic time in Americas history and serve up cocktails made popular in the speakeasies.

We hope to see you there! Get your tickets here for Thursday January 26th from 6-10pm.