This cocktail from the prohibition era, combines gin, honey and lemon, making it similar to the Gold Rush I posted last week. The story is that the honey was used to mask the poor quality of the “bathtub gin” that was commonly used during the prohibition. Other cocktails from that era is said to have been created for the same purpose, the last word for example. Because of the prohibition, it was illegal in the US during the 1920’s and the first few years of the 1930’s to import and produce alcohol for consumption. This was not something that was fully working, in the southern part of the US moonshine, white whiskey, was made at home and then sold by bootleggers. The result of bootleggers trying to outrun the police can still be seen today as the bootleggers started to race their cars against each other, a racing category or racing series was born, NASCAR. In the north, smuggling alcohol into the country was a business some Italian immigrants would find profitable, this was the mafia. Al Capone was one such figure that is well known today, part of the mafia in Chicago he smuggled whisky from Canada into the country, as well as other mob business.

The combination of gin and honey, balanced with lemon, makes for a cocktail that is easy to make and balance. While there is the same issue as last week with difference in honey, gin pares better with honey than bourbon does. For me this is one of the simpler cocktails containing gin that is a crowd pleaser. By varying the honey, the characteristics change, and then also by varying the gin it may change. It can be done in a way to let a good gin speak, or it can be done to let a very distinct honey speak. It can be neutral and balanced if that is what is wanted. In all it is a tasty cocktail that can be adapted to the consumer and may make you a better creator of cocktails.

My Recipe:

• 2 oz (6 cl) Gin
• 1 oz (3 cl) Lemon Juice
• 0.75 oz (2.25 cl) Honey Syrup

Add the ingredients to a shaker, shake with ice and strain into a chilled coupe glass.