While we were at the Royale (actually, before we drank the Last Word), we had Griffin mix us up a Sidecar. This drink is thought to have been invented in Paris or London at the end of WWI, but the recipe had found its way into a few American cocktail books by 1922.
In his book, The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks, David A. Embury credits the invention of the Sidecar to an American Army captain in Paris during the first world war. Embry wrote it was "named after the motorcycle sidecar in which the good captain was driven to and from the little bistro where the drink was born and christened." How quaint.
The Sidecar is a 3-2-1 ratio mix of Cognac, Cointreau and lemon juice, perfect for a bootlegger with a nice stock of French booze.
Southside Sanctuaria
After we downed a 12-Mile Limit at Sanctuaria, we asked what else bartender Nate Kromat could mix up that might be reminiscent of Prohibition drinking. He suggested a Southside, which might be our new favorite cocktail ever. It's essentially a mojito with gin instead of rum. Minty, fresh and delish.
The Southside is said to have been invented at the 21 Club, a former speakeasy in New York, and named for the south side of either Chicago or New York. Another story places its invention in Chicago at the center of gang wars between the north city gangs and the south city gangs. The north city gangs were importing bootlegged liquor from Canada during Prohibition, but the south city guys were stuck making bathtub gin. As we mentioned earlier, it wasn't super tasty, so mint and citrus were added to make it go down a little smoother. It's said to have been the favorite drink of Al Capone and his gang, so next time you sip a Southside, put a little swagger in your step.
