Host The Greatest Repeal Day Party Ever Thanks To Scofflaw

By Anthony Todd in Food on Dec 2, 2016 3:10PM

The Mary Pickford. Photo courtesy of Scofflaw.

Next Monday, December 5, is Repeal Day, that glorious day when Prohibition finally ended in 1933. And what could you possibly do to celebrate but drink really, really well? So, we asked our friends at Scofflaw, one of Chicago's best cocktail bars, to give us some great cocktails to celebrate the holiday. Your hosting job just got easier.

Danny Shapiro, the mixer at Scofflaw, gave us three drinks: two classics (the French 75 and the Mary Pickford), and a twist on a classic, the Bittered Bee's Knees.

The French 75

A version of this drink was created during World War I and named after a French artillery piece, supposedly because it had such a kick. The combination of sparkling wine and spirits can sneak up on you! Shapiro subs in barrel-finished gin "as a nod to the barrel transportation that bootleggers relied on during Prohibition." If you swap out the wine for something cheap and easy to find, we won't tell him.

1oz Bluecoat Barrel Finished Gin
1/2 oz Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
3.5 oz Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine (or more, depending on the glass)

Shake everything, except blanc de blancs, with ice. Strain into champagne coupe or flute. Top with the blanc de blancs. Garnish by expressing the oil from a lemon peel.

The Mary Pickford

This cocktail is named, of course, after the silent movie superstar who also helped found United Artists. But it was actually created at the Hotel Nacional in Cuba, after a trip she took there in the 1920s (Cuba was a super hip celeb destination spot then).

1.5oz El Dorado 3 Year Rum
1/4 oz Luxardo Maraschino
1/2 oz Grenadine
1/2 oz Pineapple Juice
1/2 oz Lime Juice

Shake with ice and strain into coupe glass.

Bittered Bees Knees

The original Bees Knees, a Prohibition-era combo of honey, gin and lemon, is one of my favorite drinks, which is why I was so excited to see this variation that added a little hint of bitter complexity.

1.5oz Letherbee Gin
1/4 oz Aperol
3/4 oz Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Honey Syrup (combine honey and water in equal parts and heat to dissolve)

Shake with ice and strain into coupe glass.

Even if you don't host a whole party, make one of these on Monday and raise a glass to our misguided ancestors who tried to deprive us of their deliciousness.