**Answer:** Prohibition (1920-1933)

Prohibition was a nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages in the United States from 1920 to 1933. It was intended to reduce crime and corruption, solve social problems, reduce the tax burden created by prisons and poorhouses, and improve health and hygiene. However, it had many unintended consequences, including the rise of organized crime and speakeasies.

**Cocktail Recipe: Bee’s Knees**

A classic Prohibition-era cocktail, the Bee’s Knees was likely created to mask the flavor of poorly made gin during the time.

**Ingredients:**

* 2 oz Gin (London Dry)
* 0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
* 0.75 oz Honey Syrup (equal parts honey and hot water, stirred until dissolved)
* Lemon twist, for garnish

**Instructions:**

1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake well until chilled.
3. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
4. Garnish with a lemon twist.

**Answer:** Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt, elected in 1932, campaigned on a platform that included the repeal of Prohibition. The 21st Amendment, repealing the 18th Amendment that established Prohibition, was ratified in 1933, marking the end of the “noble experiment.”

**Cocktail Recipe: Sidecar**

A sophisticated cocktail that gained popularity around the time of Prohibition’s repeal, the Sidecar is a perfect blend of sweet, sour, and strong.

**Ingredients:**

* 2 oz Cognac
* 1 oz Cointreau (or other orange liqueur)
* 0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
* Sugar, for rimming the glass (optional)
* Orange twist, for garnish

**Instructions:**

1. If desired, rim a coupe glass with sugar.
2. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.
3. Shake well until chilled.
4. Strain into the prepared coupe glass.
5. Garnish with an orange twist.

**Answer:** Speakeasy

Speakeasies, also known as blind pigs or blind tigers, were illegal establishments that sold alcoholic beverages during Prohibition in the United States. They often required a password or secret knock to gain entry and were typically hidden in basements, back rooms, or other inconspicuous locations.

**Cocktail Recipe: Gin Rickey**

A refreshing and simple cocktail that was popular in the late 19th century and continued to be enjoyed during Prohibition, likely due to its easy concealment.

**Ingredients:**

* 2 oz Gin (London Dry)
* 0.5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
* 4-6 oz Club Soda
* Lime wedge, for garnish

**Instructions:**

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Add gin and lime juice.
3. Top with club soda.
4. Gently stir to combine.
5. Garnish with a lime wedge.

**Answer:** Henry Clay

Henry Clay, a 19th-century American politician and statesman, is often credited with popularizing the Mint Julep. He reportedly introduced the drink to Washington D.C. at the Round Robin Bar in the Willard Hotel. While the drink existed before him, his patronage brought it widespread recognition.

**Cocktail Recipe: Mint Julep**

A classic Southern cocktail, the Mint Julep is synonymous with the Kentucky Derby and embodies the spirit of Southern hospitality.

**Ingredients:**

* 2 oz Bourbon (Kentucky Bourbon preferred)
* 0.5 oz Simple Syrup
* 8-10 Mint Leaves
* Crushed Ice
* Mint sprig, for garnish

**Instructions:**

1. In a julep cup or rocks glass, gently muddle the mint leaves with simple syrup.
2. Fill the glass with crushed ice.
3. Pour in the bourbon.
4. Gently stir until the glass is frosted.
5. Top with more crushed ice.
6. Garnish with a mint sprig.

**Answer:** Rum

Rum became the dominant alcoholic beverage in the American colonies due to the readily available molasses, a byproduct of the sugar trade. New England distilleries flourished, producing vast quantities of rum that were consumed locally and traded internationally. This led to the infamous “triangle trade” involving rum, slaves, and sugar.

**Cocktail Recipe: Planter’s Punch**

A classic rum punch that embodies the flavors of the Caribbean, where rum production was central to the economy and culture.

**Ingredients:**

* 2 oz Dark Rum (Jamaican Rum preferred)
* 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
* 0.75 oz Simple Syrup
* 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
* Orange slice, for garnish
* Cherry, for garnish

**Instructions:**

1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.
2. Shake well until chilled.
3. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
4. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.

**Answer:** Rum

The nickname “Kill-Devil” was commonly used to describe rum, particularly the strong, unaged variety produced in the Caribbean. Its high alcohol content and sometimes questionable production methods led to the moniker.

**Cocktail Recipe: Dark ‘n’ Stormy**

A simple yet iconic cocktail showcasing the bold flavor of dark rum, reminiscent of the seafaring days when rum was a staple for sailors.

**Ingredients:**

* 4 oz Ginger Beer
* 2 oz Dark Rum (Gosling’s Black Seal Rum is traditionally used)
* Lime wedge, for garnish (optional)

**Instructions:**

1. Fill a highball glass with ice.
2. Pour in the ginger beer.
3. Gently float the dark rum on top of the ginger beer.
4. Garnish with a lime wedge, if desired. Avoid stirring to maintain the “stormy” effect.

**Answer:** Margarita

The Margarita’s origin story is shrouded in mystery, with several individuals claiming to have invented it. Regardless of its true origin, the Margarita has become one of the most popular and recognizable cocktails in the world.

**Cocktail Recipe: Classic Margarita**

A perfectly balanced blend of tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice, the Margarita is a testament to the power of simple ingredients.

**Ingredients:**

* 2 oz Tequila (Blanco or Reposado)
* 1 oz Cointreau (or other orange liqueur)
* 0.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice
* Salt, for rimming the glass (optional)
* Lime wedge, for garnish

**Instructions:**

1. If desired, rim a rocks glass with salt.
2. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.
3. Shake well until chilled.
4. Strain into the prepared rocks glass filled with ice.
5. Garnish with a lime wedge.

**Answer:** Whiskey (typically Rye or Bourbon)

The Manhattan is a classic cocktail that dates back to the late 19th century. It is believed to have originated at the Manhattan Club in New York City.

**Cocktail Recipe: Manhattan**

A sophisticated and complex cocktail that showcases the rich flavors of whiskey, vermouth, and bitters.

**Ingredients:**

* 2 oz Rye Whiskey (or Bourbon)
* 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
* 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
* Maraschino cherry, for garnish

**Instructions:**

1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice.
2. Stir well until chilled.
3. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.
4. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

**Answer:** Bohemianism/Art Nouveau

Absinthe, also known as “the Green Fairy,” was popular among artists and writers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly those associated with Bohemianism and the Art Nouveau movement. It was believed to inspire creativity, although its high alcohol content and purported psychoactive effects were also a source of concern, leading to its eventual ban in many countries.

**Cocktail Recipe: Sazerac**

A complex and aromatic cocktail with roots in New Orleans, the Sazerac often incorporates a rinse of absinthe to add a touch of anise flavor.

**Ingredients:**

* 2 oz Rye Whiskey
* 0.25 oz Simple Syrup
* 2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
* Absinthe, for rinsing the glass
* Lemon peel, for garnish

**Instructions:**

1. Chill a rocks glass.
2. Pour a small amount of absinthe into the chilled glass and swirl to coat the inside. Discard the excess absinthe.
3. In a mixing glass, combine rye whiskey, simple syrup, and Peychaud’s bitters with ice.
4. Stir well until chilled.
5. Strain into the absinthe-rinsed rocks glass.
6. Express the oils of a lemon peel over the drink and discard the peel.

**Answer:** Negroni

The Negroni is believed to have been created in Florence, Italy, in the early 20th century when Count Camillo Negroni asked a bartender to strengthen his Americano (Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water) by replacing the soda water with gin.

**Cocktail Recipe: Negroni**

A perfectly balanced aperitivo cocktail that is equal parts bitter, sweet, and strong.

**Ingredients:**

* 1 oz Gin
* 1 oz Campari
* 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
* Orange peel, for garnish

**Instructions:**

1. Combine all ingredients in a rocks glass with ice.
2. Stir gently to combine.
3. Garnish with an orange peel.