Let’s Toast the 18th Amendment

Ratified 101 years ago, the Amendment (which ushered in Prohibition) sparked a surprising level of creativity, as people found new ways to get their hands on hooch, giggle water (or any of the other colloquialisms for alcohol). People posed as priests to get sacramental wine. Doctors wrote prescriptions for medicinal whiskey (tripling the number of registered pharmacists in New York). And bootleggers modified their cars to avoid police, eventually racing each other—and giving birth to what we know today as Nascar!

With liquor back on the table, it’s today’s mixologists that are raising creativity to refreshing new heights. And I’ve included three favorite discoveries here.

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KACHUMBER COOLER. The cucumber has become almost a cocktail bar staple—and this refresher serves it up with a kick.

  • 2 cucumber slices

  • 8 cilantro sprigs

  • 2 slices fresh chile

  • 1 ¾ oz gin

  • ½ oz fresh lime juice

  • ½ oz simple syrup

Place cucumber, cilantro, and chile in a shaker. Muddle until well broken. Add the gin, lime, and simple syrup and shake vigorously. Strain into a glass half-filled with ice. Garnish with cucumber slice.

*Note: With the FDA saying copper drinkware shouldn’t be used with anything acidic, I’d refrain from using the traditional copper mug.

*Note: With the FDA saying copper drinkware shouldn’t be used with anything acidic, I’d refrain from using the traditional copper mug.

CARIBBEAN MULE. Also known as the Havana, this tropical-tinged take on the traditional Moscow Mule will have you forgetting the chill outside. (At least until you reach the bottom of your glass.)

  • 2 oz Caribbean rum

  • 6 oz ginger beer

  • 0.5 oz lime juice

  • 2 small pieces of ginger

  • 1 lime wedge

Muddle ginger and combine the remaining ingredients except ginger beer into a shaker. Shake, then strain into glass* and top with ginger beer. Add crushed ice and garnish with lime wedge.

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ESPRESSO MARTINI. Anyone who knows me knows I love this deadly, decadent treat—deadly because you don’t really taste the liquor. The addition of crème de cacao may make this my new go-to!

  • 1 oz brewed espresso

  • 1 ½ oz vodka

  • 1 ½ oz coffee-flavored liqueur (such as Kahlua®)

  • 1 oz white crème de cacao

Combine espresso, vodka, coffee liqueur, crème de cacao, and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake until chilled. Strain into a chilled martini glass

Cheers!

Jason McKee