CHESAPEAKE COCKTAIL
Prohibition Era Cocktails of the Bay
M
any of today’s classic cocktails were developed in the gin joints and speakeasies that blossomed during Prohibition. Bartenders developed creative combinations and even more creative names to keep customers saying, “Joe sent me.” In Baltimore, one of the top destinations for illegal booze was the Owl Bar, at the Belvedere Hotel. The hotel debuted at One East Chase Street on December 14, 1903, and its grand opening was the toast of the social season, drawing tycoons, politicians, socialites, gangsters and more. The party continued (albeit behind closed doors) during Prohibition, thanks in no small part to the rumrunners who made their way up the Chesapeake Bay. Visit the Owl Bar today and you’ll find this poem embedded in stained glass along the back wall.
A wise old owl sat on an oak The more he saw the less he spoke The less he spoke the more he heard Why can’t we be more like that wise old bird?”
Bee’s Knees A Prohibition-era take on the gin sour, the honey may have been added to help hide the off-flavor of bathtub gin. Honey does not mix well with cold liquids, so for this cocktail, it’s best to prep a syrup in advance, or buy a premade one, available at most fine spirits stores.
INGREDIENTS 2 ounces gin ¾ ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed ½ ounce honey syrup (¼ cup honey dissolved in ¼ cup warm water and then chilled) Lemon twist Add all ingredients except the lemon twist to a shaker full of ice, then shake. Pour into a coupe glass and garnish with the twist.
82
ChesapeakeBayMagazine.com
October 2021
