Skip to main content

Raise a glass to Repeal Day with these whisky cocktails

Celebrate the lifting of Prohibition with these cocktails inspired by the era

repeal day cocktails sirdavis davis old fashioned leslie kirchhoff 4
SirDavis

91 years ago today, Prohibition was officially lifted and alcohol once again became legal to buy and consume in the U.S. Though Prohibition was, ironically enough, a boom time for the cocktail industry, birthing many of the classic cocktails we still enjoy today, the nationwide ban on alcohol persisted from 1919 to the passing of the Twenty-first Amendment to the constitution on December 5, 1919.

During Prohibition people certainly didn’t stop drinking, but they did do it in a different manner. The need for secrecy gave rise to iconic speakeasy bars and even indirectly to NASCAR as bootleggers souped up their cars to outrun the feds when delivering their moonshine. As for the drinks themselves, many of the spirits available during this time were dubious at best, being made in unofficial establishments with little regard to safety. It’s where the term bathtub gin comes from, referring to to mixing of cheap grain alcohol with flavorings in metal or ceramic bathtubs. And night-time distillation of illicit booze gave rise to the term moonshine as well.

Recommended Videos

To cover up the often terrible flavors of these cheap spirits, cocktails became popular as a way to elevate or hide bad spirits. Even though these drinks have their roots in less than savory practices, the essential formulas remain similar today — although these days we look for high quality spirits for a much improved flavor (and no risk of going blind!)

Favorite ingredients of the era included lemon juice and honey for the combination of sharpness and sweetness that still makes for a great drink today. To celebrate Repeal Day, Beyoncé’s brand SirDavis American Whisky has shared recipes for three Prohibition-era-inspired cocktails, so you can raise a glass to an iconic era of American booze history.

Houston

SirDavis

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz SirDavis American Whisky
  • 1 oz Sweet Vermouth
  • .25 oz Honey Syrup*
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • Garnish: Brandied Cherry

Method:

Add SirDavis American Whisky, sweet vermouth, honey syrup, and bitters into a mixing glass with ice and stir until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry.

*To make honey syrup, add 2 parts honey and 1 part water into a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the honey is dissolved. Allow to cool and transfer to an airtight container.

Davis Old Fashioned

SirDavis

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz SirDavis American Whisky
  • .25 oz Honey Syrup*
  • 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
  • Garnish: Lemon Twist & Brandied Cherry

Method:

In a mixing glass, add all ingredients. Stir for dilution and strain into a rocks glass over a large cube. Garnish with an orange twist & brandied cherry.

*To make honey syrup, add 2 parts honey and 1 part water into a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the honey is dissolved. Allow to cool and transfer to an airtight container.

Honey Bee

Honey Bee
SirDavis

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz SirDavis American Whisky
  • .75 oz Lemon Juice
  • .5 oz Honey Syrup*
  • Garnish: Honeycomb

Method:

Add liquid ingredients to a shaker tin with ice going in last. Shake for dilution and pour into a coupe glass. Garnish with honeycomb.

*To make honey syrup, add 2 parts honey and 1 part water into a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the honey is dissolved. Allow to cool and transfer to an airtight container.

Georgina Torbet
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Georgina Torbet is a cocktail enthusiast based in Berlin, with an ever-growing gin collection and a love for trying out new…
Flashy Independence Day cocktails from Deep Eddy Vodka
Red, white, blue, and refreshing
Festive Deep Eddy shot.

The Fourth of July is tomorrow and if you don't have a signature cocktail in order yet, fear not. We've got two festive recipes from a vodka brand worth trying out at home. They're cold, colorful, and refreshing, meaning they're more than welcome on a long summer weekend.

Deep Eddy set us up with pair of cocktails befitting of the weekend, each with a trio of colors and flavors. In the end, you're set up with a beverage that can handle even the hottest afternoon as you try out some easy grilling recipes. And you can dress them up any way you like, adding cool straws or garnishes.
Declaration on Ice

Read more
Pineapple cocktails are this summer’s hottest trend — these recipes are must-try
Tropical is the way to go for summer cocktails
A glass of pineapple Tiki style cocktail.

Over the last few years, the cocktail world has seen a number of massive trends. From espresso Martini recipes galore to the return of fun flavors like banana, there's been a lot of action behind the bar. After chatting with some industry folks, we're convinced one of the big cocktail flavors of summer 2025 is going to be pineapple.

Call it escapism or that long-standing love for all things tropical, whatever it may be, pineapple seems to be coming back yet again. Recently, it's shown up not just in the form of intriguing cocktail recipes but infused into liqueurs and even injected into beer. Looks like pineapple might just find a way into your favorite glass this summer.

Read more
This rosé sangria is the ultimate summer cocktail mashup
A refreshing Spanish-style bevy for summer
Sangria

Is there anything more summer than Rosé and Sangria? How about combining the two. This summer cocktail recipe is about as sunny as things get. And if you need a reason to celebrate, we've got a few.

For starters, the Fourth of July is just a few days away. Even if you're not big on the holiday, it falls on a summer weekend so that's kinda nice. Bastille Day is coming up, if that's more your speed. And the long mild days are always worth raising a glass to, in our opinion.

Read more