Wow, I apparently thought it was still late-October or something, because it came as a complete surprise to me today that my favorite drinking holiday in the whole world is next weekend. I guess that between keeping my nose to the grindstone at work and traveling extensively lately, it was bound to happen. Then I found this email in my inbox:

Jeff,

What do you have in store for Repeal Day? It’s only 2 weeks away and you’ve been as quiet as a church mouse!

All the Best,

Kris

Gulp. Well, Kris, I’ll tell you. But first, a short primer for those who might not know what Repeal Day is all about. A few years ago, I wrote a piece on this website urging people to embrace a new celebratory holiday: the day Prohibition was repealed, December Fifth. It was something I’d been celebrating in my bars for years, but just threw up onto my blog for a lark. Well, the Internet went for it in a big way and suddenly people were taking Repeal Day seriously.

And so, to answer Kris’ question, I’m headed back to Washington, D.C. for the nation’s largest, most boisterous, celebration’est Repeal Day party, hosted by the DC Craft Bartenders Guild. Here’s what they themselves have to say about the shindig:

“The DC Craft Bartender’s Guild (DCCBG) is holding the Second Annual Repeal Day Ball on December 5th from 9 P.M. to midnight, celebrating the 76th anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition. Attendees will enjoy craft cocktails from the city and country’s best mixologists and food from renowned chef Peter Smith while dancing along to the Prohibition-era sounds of the Red Hot Rhythm Chiefs. The ball is black tie and will be held at PS7’s restaurant at 777 Eye Street, NW.

This year’s ball location is across from historic Calvary Baptist Church, the first national convention site of the Anti-Saloon League, which launched the legislative agenda for Prohibition. Of course, the DCCBG is pleased to announce our own agenda–to have fun! We will celebrate our freedom in style and have dubbed this year the “Spirit of 76” to commemorate the freedom to drink as adults, featuring our “Founding Drinkers” dressed as the founding fathers.

Come celebrate too with cocktail creations from local favorites Gina Chersevani, Derek Brown and Todd Thrasher, to name a few, along with special guests–bartending legend Dale DeGroff, nationally-renowned bartender Tad Carducci, and toastmaster Jeffrey Morgenthaler. We will also feature top spirit brands and a special rum and cigar lounge.

Tickets are $100 for general admission ($150 for VIP) and can be purchased online at www.dccraftbartendersguild.org. A portion of the final proceeds will go to benefit the Museum of the American Cocktail in New Orleans.

Post from: Jeffrey Morgenthaler. Follow me on Twitter.

Repeal Day is December Fifth

You guys don’t realize how good you’ve got it. See, when I was a young blogger, we didn’t have all these new, fancy blogs that you guys have got nowadays. There was none of this Kaiser Penguin business, and certainly not the Scofflaw’s Den. Hell, Boudreau was probably still in Canada back then, for all I know.

All we had back in those days was The Art of Drink, some of Paul’s early material, and a now-defunct little blog called DC Drinks. Put on by a couple of wiseacres from our nation’s capital, the guys from DC Drinks were not only some of my biggest influences as a blogger, but they were also instrumental in helping me start spreading the word about Repeal Day online.

So when Derek Brown called me and asked if I’d like to come out to Washington and celebrate Repeal Day with the Washington, D.C. Craft Bartenders Guild, I didn’t have to think twice, I jumped on that plane and ran back East for yet another adventure.

Our weekend began with a quick cocktail at Bourbon, and then a beautiful ten course dinner at Vidalia, with a special food and cocktail pairing menu prepared especially for us by chef R.J. Cooper. We recoiled with delight as wave after wave of plates arrived at the table, accompanied by solidified twists on cocktails and traditional drinks paired brilliantly by sommelier Ed Jenks We sat and chatted with Tony Abou-Ganim, Guild President Owen Thompson, Melanie da Trinidade-Asher of Macchu Pisco, Eric Seed, Emma Davis of Martin Miller’s Gin, and Bill Thomas, owner of Bourbon.

Nightcaps were brilliantly prepared by Chantal Tseng at the Tabard Inn, however by this point I was feeling the effects of a full day’s travel and a full belly’s meal, so I bade farewell to my friends and found my way to bed.

After some light sightseeing the next day I was ready to get my hands dirty. I’d previously agreed to tend bar with my friend Jacob Grier at the Cato Institute’s policy forum, so afterwards Jacob and I put out a few hundred Martinezes, Manhattans and Sazeracs for the thirsty crowd. But, as in any social situation, the place I feel the most comfortable is behind the bar, so while I had trouble tearing myself away from the event I knew it was time to get ready for the party.

The Great Hall at the City Tavern Club is painted in history, having played host to practically every major American political figure in history, from George Washington and John Adams right up to Ronald Reagan. Which is great, because when you’re in Washington you want to feel that connection to the nation’s history – especially when celebrating such a historic day as we were.

One thing you’ve got to love about Washington D.C. is the glamour you’ll find at a major event like this – it’s certainly not like anything you’ll ever find on the West Coast. Really, people went all out with period dress, flapper costumes, tuxedoes, and more hip flasks than LeNell could shake a bottle of Pre-Prohibition rye and tiny funnel at.

But that’s neither here nor there. The point is that I can’t really do this event justice through words and photos. The Guild did the most incredible job of transporting everyone in the building to the Eve of Repeal, from the live swing band and our mustachioed toastmaster to the myriad bars scattered around the Hall serving pre- or Prohibition era cocktails to the thirsty masses.

But soon the hour was fading yet again, and while I could (or should) have found my way back to the hotel, I instead opted to join our hosts at the private after-party at DC’s newest speakeasy, Gibson.

I’m not usually a huge fan of private clubs and speakeasies. I’ve been to bars that were exclusive to the point of being inhospitable. I’ve experienced – on two separate establishments – being stalled at the door by a host, only to find an empty room upon entry. I think that while the speakeasy concept can work, the point is often missed by the employees of the establishment and the whole thing becomes poorly translated into a worthwhile bar experience.

But not so at The Gibson. Upon gaining entry through the unmarked front door you are taken through a dark hallway to one of the warmest, friendliest, most inviting spaces I’ve ever been in – and I’ve been in a few bars. The staff is incredibly hospitable, there seem to be no unrealistic expectations of inebriated human behavior in place, and the drinks are downright incredible. It’s everything you want from a speakeasy, and you can still whisper the F-word across the table to your friends without fear of castigation.

We broke no-standing-room-only policy as a hundred-plus of us filled the room; bartenders, rabble-rousers, bloggers, Repeal Day advocates, liquor tradespeople and cocktail aficionados all rubbed elbows around the never-ending punch bowl in the back room of The Gibson.

But oh-my-head, and soon I found myself sitting at the bar with Derek in a thinned-out version of the earlier scene, being served some magnificent cocktails by our infatigable and persistent bartenders John and Tiffany until the wee hours of the morning.

There’s more to this trip – much more – including a trip to Alexandria to visit with the brilliant Mr. Todd Thrasher at two of his three bars, but that will have to wait for another post as I’ve already taken three days to write this. So talk amongst yourselves, what did you do for Repeal Day? Were you at the party in DC? Have you ever been to The Gibson? What are your experiences with speakeasies around the world? Leave a note in the comments section below.

Post from: Jeffrey Morgenthaler. Follow me on Twitter.

Repeal Day in Washington, D.C.

The world is gearing up for Repeal Day this Friday and I couldn’t be more pleased.

My good friend Kevin Erskine over at The Scotch Blog has a big summary of Repeal Day history and events posted – thanks for the kind words, Kevin.

How’s Your Drink author Eric Felten devoted his weekly column in the Wall Street Journal last weekend to Repeal Day – very kind of you, sir!

Imbibe Magazine is posting a calendar of events happening in cities across the country, be sure to see what’s happening in your area.

Over at Underhill Lounge, Erik Ellestad gives us some more in-depth coverage of what’s happening in San Francisco and still manages to whine about the hangover he had the last time I came to visit.

Have any Repeal Day news of your own? Leave us a note in the comments section, or post your Repeal Day events here.

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Keepin’ It Repeal

I’ll be in Washington, D.C., celebrating the 75th anniversary of Repeal Day in our nation’s capital with the Washington, D.C. Craft Bartender’s Guild at what promises to be a great party.

So I put it to you: what do you have planned for December 5th? Leave your event’s info and a link to the festivities happening in your area in the comments section below.

Post from: Jeffrey Morgenthaler. Follow me on Twitter.

What Are You Doing on Repeal Day?

No, not Election Day, you chucklehead. I’m referring, of course, to Repeal Day, the day that Americans decided to call bullshit on Prohibition and repeal the Eighteenth Amendment to the constitution, giving many of us the ability to have a beer at a picnic, crack open a bottle of wine with dinner, work as a bartender without the risk of jail time, or even make our own gin at home without a still.

I wrote about this several years ago, when Repeal Day was still a relatively obscure drinking holiday in the minds of most Americans, and my cold little heart swells with pride every time I hear of another group joining the celebrations happening across the country.

Exactly one month from today marks the 75th Anniversary of the Repeal of Prohibition, and on December 5th I’ll be in our nation’s capitol, celebrating with the Washington, D.C. Craft Bartenders Guild and posting all of the events here on this blog.

So, please, be sure to check out my other project, repealday.org: the official home of Repeal Day on the web, and read the full story of Repeal Day here.

That is all, you may return to your previously-scheduled celebrations now.

Post from: Jeffrey Morgenthaler. Follow me on Twitter.

The Most Important Day in American History

Things are really starting to ramp up for the 75th anniversary of the Repeal of Prohibition on December 5th! Today I received a package from the folks at Old Forester bourbon, who are showing their support of my favorite day by releasing a limited edition Repeal Day bottling of their whiskey.

From the press release:

“Repeal Bourbon is bottled from a special selection of Old Forester barrels that exhibited a more robust character that is similar to the Old Forester that was bottled during Prohibition,” added Chris Morris, Master Distiller for Old Forester. “The flavor, presented at Prohibition’s required 100 proof, is a full, deep, charred oak character that will appeal to bourbon-lovers everywhere.”

Old Forester has long been one of my go-to bourbons, as it explores the savory side of whiskey without an overload of sweetness. I love using it in a Manhattan as it sets off the orange and caramel of a good sweet vermouth while providing a solid, spicy backbone.

Check out more information about the bottling (due sometime in late November or early December) here, and as always, visit the home of Repeal Day here.

Post from: Jeffrey Morgenthaler. Follow me on Twitter.

Old Forester Repeal Bourbon

I just looked at the calendar and realized that today is a crucial halfway-point in the year – and that I only have six months to prepare myself for my favorite American holiday: Repeal Day!

Last year was a big year for Repeal Day. We saw the launch of RepealDay.org, the official home of Repeal Day on the web and a source of information for an astounding 50,000 visitors in the month of December alone. Repeal Day parties sprang up everywhere across the country, and the good people at Dewar’s Scotch generously brought me out to New York to help them celebrate Repeal Day, of which they’ve been proud supporters since the beginning.

But as monumental last year’s Repeal Day celebration was, it should look like nothing at all when compared to this year: The Seventy-Fifth Anniversary of the Repeal of Prohibition. I’ll be updating not only this website but also expanding the valuable information at RepealDay.org and reporting on what Dewar’s has got in store for all of us this year. Stay tuned!

PS – If you’re new to the site, please take a minute and read my thoughts as to why I feel Repeal Day is so important. As always, thanks for reading.

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Six More Months Until Repeal Day!

The first bar on my list was the Flatiron Lounge, near Gramercy Park. All of the reviews I’d read told me that this was the place to be treated to some serious bartending, and judging by the cocktail menu that was placed before me, I was going to be in for a treat.

My first drink from the menu was a Chinchona, created by Charlotte Voisey, Hendrick’s Gin Brand Champion. The drink, to the best of my recollection, contained añejo tequila, Lillet rouge and orange bitters. I watched as my bartender, Giuseppe Gonzalez, crafted my cocktail with the technical prowess and attention to detail of a true master.

Sitting at the bar at the Flatiron, admiring their extensive liquor collection, I noticed a bottle I’d never seen before. Upon inquiring further, Giuseppe brought the bottle down from the shelf and let me try a sip. Amaro Abano, by Luxardo. Rich and viscous, with a lot of cardamom, saffron and bitter orange. The saffron interested me, so I asked to try a Negroni with the amaro. Giuseppe grabbed two ounces of Old Raj gin, and one ounce each of the Abano and Campari. The Abano lent a heavier texture than Italian vermouth, something like a reduction of Punt e Mes. But considering the 2:1:1 ratio, the drink worked well, especially in Giuseppe’s skilled hands.

By this point my friends from Eugene had showed up and it was time to track down some more cocktails before heading back to the hotel to pack for my flight.

Our next stop was to be Please Don’t Tell, a new cocktail-centric bar in St. Mark’s Place that has been hugely successful since its opening this year. Unfortunately I never got to set foot inside, as the place was packed beyond capacity. Heavy sigh…

The good news was that famed bar Death and Company was right around the corner. The bad news was delivered to us by the staff as we walked in on them dismantling the bar for the night. I considered suggesting we implement the recently-announced bartender exchange program right then and there (I’d take over breaking down the bar and they could fly back to Eugene and work my shift – sounds fair, right?) but I kept my mouth shut and assured them that we’d be back.

I’ve admired Sascha Petraske’s bartending philosophy for quite some time now, and I wanted to try at least one of his world-famous bars before I left. So the last stop of the night was decided to be Little Branch, a semi-reclusive neighborhood joint in the basement of a corner building in the West Village.

We were shown to our table by the cocktail server, directly across the aisle from the bossa nova quartet that was filling the cavern with familiar, soothing melodies.

My friends and I browsed the simple and well-constructed cocktail menu and settled in on a Hot Toddy, a Bramble, and (my selection) a Bartender’s Choice with the caveat that I was in the mood for some nice rye. I was delivered a light, beautifully-balanced blend of Rittenhouse rye, Laird’s applejack and Regan’s orange bitters, bathing a single cube of freshly-cut ice.

While I missed out on half my list of bars to see during my 36 hours in Manhattan, I was humbled by the professional service, brilliant craftsmanship and profound knowledge I witnessed in the two bars I was able to visit.

I’ll be back, New York.

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Manhattan Bar Tour: Two Outta Four Ain’t Bad, Right?

My day started at 1PM today, at a lunch at Pete’s Tavern, one of the oldest the oldest continually-operating bars in New York City. I had a great meal and met some of the people at Dewar’s that have been working so hard to spread the same message that I’ve been touting for some time now myself, people without whom some of you would never have heard of Repeal Day or contemplated its importance.

Anyway, I had just enough time for a quick turn-around back at the hotel and a chance to make myself… let’s go with “more visually appealing”. Then it was off to the W hotel bar to get together with the brand managers for Dewar’s and head out to some of the bars in their account portfolio that were celebrating Repeal Day. It was a lightning-fast tour of the Crocodile Lounge and Puck Fair, both of which gave me a more well-rounded picture of life in New York.

Then it was down to Greenwich Village to the basement of our speakeasy-style club where the main event was about to take place. We arrived early enough that I could take in the careful preparations and visual details they put into the space.

Within no time things were happening and the place was filling up with hooligans at an alarming rate. Most were in period costume, from guys in fedoras (myself included) to foxy flapper girls, and best of all the guy giving straight-razor shaves in an old barber chair.

And there was Dewar’s scotch. Lots and lots of Dewar’s scotch. Everywhere you turned there was some sort of bar pushing scotch and Jamaican ginger beer (a combination that I’d never considered, but enjoyed) out by the dozens.

Card tables, roulette wheels, craps tables, and even a guy robbing people blind of their chips at a three-card Monty table in the corner. There were arm-wrestling tables (I came in even, one win and one tragic loss, now both my arms are sore) and a live burlesque show.

Whew. At any rate, the scotch was starting to go to my head, so I said my goodbyes and stepped out into the snowy night to go on a little pilgrimage.

This is New York, after all, and I came to see some of the bars I’ve read so much about over the years. Stay tuned for more stories…

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Repeal Day in New York City

After a few late take-offs and missed flights, I finally arrived in Manhattan in time to check in to my hotel and scrub my travel-weary face before heading out on the town for a short visit.

Sometimes the stars align and you get to meet a bunch of Oregon bartenders in New York, which is exactly what happened tonight. I had dinner with Hillary Sites, Albert Halfl and Aaron Hopps, all current and former Eugene bartenders:

After dinner, I convinced Hillary and her boyfriend John (another former Eugenian) to join me at Audrey Saunders’ Pegu Club for drinks.

I had their Pisco Punch (more about that previously and in the future), Hillary grabbed herself a perfectly-executed Pegu Club Cocktail, and John dipped into a Tantris Sidecar.

I promise I’ll write a more in-depth review of the drinks when I can, but for now, it’s late and I’ve got to get to bed in anticipation of Repeal Day.

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My Trip To Manhattan, Part 1

This being my first ever time hosting Mixology Monday, I’m a little nervous. So bear with me. Also, my schedule has taken a turn for the busier… I’m leaving tomorrow morning to celebrate Repeal Day with the folks from Dewar’s scotch in New York City!

As Repeal Day is coming up on the 5th, I thought we should all get in the spirit by mixing our favorite Prohibition-era cocktails. On to the entries!

Getting an early jump on the competition was Anita at Married… with Dinner. On Friday, she posted a delightful concoction from the Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book called the Ampersand.

Shawn over at Rejiggered gives us an original cocktail, the Snowbird Rum Runner, which Shawn informs us was inspired by the rumrunners of the Prohibition era.

My good friend Erik Ellestad put together a thread at the eGullet forums, with several people contributing cocktails. Thanks, Erik!

Scomorokh over at The Science of Drink showed up with The Angel’s Tit. I don’t normally go for that sort of strong language, but the drink looks interesting – to say the least. I’m going to have to try this one out at work tonight.

Chip and Andy at Chip and Andy’s Universe burst through the door with the Maiden’s Kiss, another sexually-charged cocktail that they’re using to kill two birds with one stone, Mixology Monday and Raiders of the Lost Cocktail. Nice work!

Dinah at MetaGrrrl showed up with a little something called the Ruby Cocktail that she found in a book from 1908 called The World’s Drinks And How To Mix Them by William “Cocktail” Boothby.

Marshall at The Scofflaw’s Den came through with the Star Cocktail, which he found in Mr. Wondrich’s new book Imbibe!

And speaking of Scofflaws, SeanMike at the Scofflaw’s Den went with the Scoff Law Cocktail and the Jack Rose, with a Vesper as a chaser. Ambitious!

Bunnyhugs brings us a lengthy and well-informed post about the Pisco Punch, one of my favorite cocktails. I hadn’t had the pleasure of visiting Bunnyhugs before, but this sort of writing reminds me why I love our ever-growing community.

Our friend Chuck Taggart at the Gumbo Pages went above-and-beyond the call of duty, cracking open his copy of The Saloon in the Home, or A Garden of Rumblossoms, by Ridgely Hunt and George S. Chappell from 1930. The drink is called the Hunting Horn, and the post is full of Chuck’s usual style of valuable information. A must-read.

If you like complex cocktails, you’re going to love Craig’s post at The Brotherhood of If, a drink called Everybody’s Irish American.

Robert over at Explore the Pour is a lot like me. He loves eggs in cocktails and wrote about ten pages explaining his fascination. He brought his ovoid love to the table with the Morning Glory cocktail. Another drink I’m going to be trying out tonight.

Despite my very Teutonic last name and a year of German classes in college, I still don’t speak a lick of German. But that won’t stop me from trying Christian at Cocktailwelt’s Bijou cocktail. Now to find a metric jigger…

My fellow Oregonian Blair at Trader Tiki wrote a nice piece about the history of Prohibition in Portland, and submits one of my all-time favorites (and yours, I hope) the Monkey Gland.

Thanks to everyone who participated. If I somehow left you out, just leave a comment in the comments section and let us know – I’ve got to go pack my bags!

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Mixology Monday: Prohibition

I have been given the honor of hosting next month’s Mixology Monday here, and since it is in such close company with December 5th, which is Repeal Day, I’ve decided to try to combine the two and have a little fun with it.

So, for this round of MxMo, you’re going to need to write about a pre-Prohibition-era cocktail, tell a Repeal Day story, create an original drink inspired by Prohibition, etc.

So crack open your new copies of David Wondrich’s Imbibe!, plan a Repeal Day event, or reach deep into your inspiration well and come up with something to wow the world with. We’ll all meet back here on Monday for the round-up.

Update – the folks at Dewar’s scotch sent along this video to help get the juices flowing:

That is all. Carry on.

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December 3rd is Mixology Monday, December 5th is Repeal Day

Here’s the lineup of hooligans at the bar. Scott got the night off work so that we could both be out at the same time – a rare occurrence to be sure!

Then it was off to the venerable Max’s Tavern, which opened in 1933. Repeal Year! The crowd was lively, and Chase and Kim kept the atmosphere energetic with trivia, including a question about Repeal Day!

We met up with Carla and Jeff at Max’s, and our group’s numbers began to swell. Then, as things were starting to get a little foggy, we made a last stop at Rennie’s Landing for a round (or two…) of shots outside on the fireplace-lit patio.

Thanks to everyone who came out, the bartenders who put up with us, and all of you, the readers!

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Repeal Day Photos

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Hangover Day is December Sixth

Thanks again to all of you out there who got on the bandwagon and helped me spread the word about this. Celebrate in style tonight, but please be careful and make sure you have a designated driver. I want to make sure you’re all around for the 75th anniversary of Repeal Day in two years, okay?

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Repeal Day is Here at Last!

Okay, so I’ve been pressured into offering this stuff (well, there’s only one shirt for now – CafePress kinda sucks) so I’m doing it. I don’t even know if you’ll be able to get this shirt before Repeal Day, but it’s worth a shot. I just bought myself a navy blue one. I like the white text.

Here’s the link to the CafePress store.

I do want to mention that I haven’t marked this t-shirt up one cent, so I’m not making any money off this. Zilch. Not a dime. I wouldn’t try to get rich off the Twenty-First amendment, I just want to advertise it on your chest. So it may seem a little spendy, but I’m paying exactly what you’re paying – CafePress gets all the money. And my navy blue model is on its way here.

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Repeal Day Merchandise

Hello Jeff,

I can see you are ready to toast Repeal Day!

As you know, December 5th will mark the anniversary of Repeal Day; it was on this date in 1933 that the 21st Amendment was ratified and Prohibition was terminated. And, Dewar’s Scotch – the first legal whisky to arrive in the U.S. – hit New York’s South Street Seaport docks the moment the law was put into action. Joseph Kennedy, Sr. (JFK’s father) happened to be the US agent for the brand.

Now, a lot of people have suggested that Joseph Kennedy was a bootlegger, which he may or may not have been. But what he really was, was the owner of a company named Somerset Importers. Somerset owned the exclusive rights to import Dewar’s Schotch and Gordon’s Gin, and right before Repeal, Somerset stocked up. Big time. Once Prohibition was over, they sold the premium liquors for a hefty profit, and Joe was a rich man.

Why not celebrate this significant day in American history with some vintage cocktails – The Dewar’s Old Fashioned; Dewar’s Highball; Ward Eight; and the Rob Roy. Try out the recipes, and enjoy at your favorite speakeasy.

Lesley

Now, I can’t vouch for the quality of the recipes she sent along, because I’m not intimately acquainted with the flavor of Dewar’s Scotch. This may have something to do with the fact that Dewar’s Scotch has never flown me to Scotland to tour their facility and then write several articles about the experience. They have also never sent me a box containing their entire product line to sample and review. So, until I’m more familiar with their products through one of these methods, I’ll just have to explore other liquors.

Next up, Dewar’s has taken things one step further for all of us and our very important cause. They’re taking out a full-color insert in the December 5th edition of The New York Times announcing their commitment to Repeal Day. Here’s a preview:

Wow! I’d love to stop and say thanks right now, but Dewar’s had to take it to the next level for us. Watch this video they put together.

Thanks for all of your support, Dewar’s! Now, can we get any other liquor companies on board?

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Repeal Day Information from Dewar’s Scotch

Did you know that beer was made legal eight months before wine and liquor? Budweiser may be celebrating this moment, but I prefer to hold out for December 5th every year.

I found a liquor store in Brooklyn that will be celebrating Repeal Day with us by having a sale that lasts until midnight!

Have any Repeal Day news or events of your own? Send them to me and I’ll try to post them here.

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One More Week Until Repeal Day!

Thanks, Gawker and Chow! The Twenty-First Amendment and I are forever in your debt.

Also, in honor of the word spreading about December 5th, I’m creating a category dedicated to Repeal Day, so you can catch all of your Repeal Day news in one place. Here’s the link.

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Gawker Loves Repeal Day

Is December 5th marked on your calendars? No? Well it should be. It was on this day in 1933 that the 21st Amendment was ratified, thus ending Prohibition.

…and they’ve found some great videos online.

Hop on over to the Museum for a great piece on Repeal Day, and then click the big buttons below to watch the videos.

Post from: Jeffrey Morgenthaler. Follow me on Twitter.

Repeal Day Videos!

• Paul over at Drink This Blog is behind us all the way, and is spreading the word to bartenders in person and with his brand-new classic cocktail blog.
• The folks behind Modern Drunkard Magazine love Repeal Day. They’re talking about it in their forums, they’ve linked to us, and they’re even working on a story for the next issue! If you’ve never visited Modern Drunkard, do yourself a favor and read up, it’s a brilliant tongue-in-cheek look at modern drinking culture.
• The guys over at DC Drinks are my kind of guys. Not only do they write one of the best-written drink blogs on the ‘net, replete with brilliant cynicism and witty commentary, but they’re so behind Repeal Day that they’re making me look bad. They’re going to be celebrating the Fifth at Billy Martin’s Tavern in Washington, D.C., which opened its doors on December 5, 1933. Repeal Day O.G.!
• The Art of Drink is the mothership of drink blogs.  Darcy O’Neil has put together a site that collects the best of what’s out there and I’m so glad he’s decided to join me in celebrating Repeal Day.  Hi, Darcy!
• I wish I had a lot of time on my hands – like Michael from Days that End in ‘Y’ – because if I did, I’d certainly try to put together a site that was as comprehensive as his.  He’s got one of the most frequently-updated sites out there, and he knows it.  He even suggested to me that if he doesn’t do something for Repeal Day, we should all let him have it.

There you have it, folks.  We’ve got almost 20 more days left until the big day, so get out there and exercise your First Amendment right to uh, talk about the, uh, Twenty-First Amendment.  Something like that.

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Repeal Day Hits the Internet

Folks, there are a few drinking holidays here in the United States, but I’m here to tell you that none of them are as important as the new celebration I’m proposing for this great country of ours.  Allow me to start from the beginning:

Saint Patrick’s Day
Saint Patrick’s Day (March 17th), a national holiday in Ireland, is a feast day that commemorates Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.  It was brought to the United States by Irish immigrants and is now celebrated by Irish and non-Irish alike.  Cities with large Irish populations host huge celebrations with parades, where scores of drunken fraternities swallow huge amounts of Guinness Stout, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Bailey’s Irish Cream, and Mickey’s Malt Liquor. Sometimes corned beef is eaten.

Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) is a Mexican holiday that celebrates the the victory of Mexican troops over the French occupational army in the Battle of Puebla on May 5th, 1862.  It has been adopted as a commercialized drinking holiday by the United States, where people flock to chain Mexican restaurants to gulp down huge quantities blended margaritas, shots of Jose Cuervo tequila and bottles of Corona beer. Chips and salsa are served.

Halloween
Halloween (October 31st) began as a Celtic Pagan festival, named as the evening (e’en) before All Hallow’s Day on November 1st.  Halloween wasn’t widely celebrated in the United States until the middle of the 20th century, and is now the sixth most profitable holiday for retailers.  It is celebrated by this country’s drinking-age population in the form of dressing up in very slutty costumes and consuming large amounts of alcohol. Any kind. Dry ice is often involved.

Repeal Day
Repeal Day (December 5th) is not celebrated by anyone in this country, yet it is the only day which truly has any connection with alcohol. December 5th is the anniversary of the day the United States repealed the Eighteenth Amendment and gave us all the constitutional right to consume alcohol.  I’ve been celebrating Repeal Day for years by forcing this information down the throats of my customers, and now I’m forcing it on you.  Here are a few reasons why I think Repeal Day should be a major drinking holiday in the United States:

1. We have the constitutional right to do so.  How many forms of pleasure are guaranteed by the Constitution?  None, unless you’re one of those who get an inflated sense of ego from holding a firearm or speaking in public. Me, I’m going to stick with alcohol.
2. It’s at the right time.  Conveniently located about halfway between Thanksgiving and Christmas, at a time when we’re probably not with our families, the Fifth of December represents a great time to get together with friends and celebrate our constitutional rights.
3. Repeal Day doesn’t exclude.  Are you an American, or are you located in the United States? Congratulations, you’re invited to join our party!  Sorry, gay leprechauns, but Saint Patrick’s Day is off limits.  Being French on Cinco de Mayo is about as cool as being British on the Fourth of July.  But December Fifth is a day that’s open to anyone!
4. It’s easy!  There are no outfits to buy, costumes to rent, rivers to dye green.  Simply celebrate the day by stopping by your local bar, tavern, saloon, winery, distillery, or brewhouse and having a drink.  Pick up a six-pack on your way home from work.  Split a bottle of wine with a loved one.  Buy a shot for a stranger.  Just do it because you can.

Thanks for reading about what I hope will become a more widely-celebrated day in this country. Please help spread the word about Repeal Day, and tell a friend. Cheers!

Post from: Jeffrey Morgenthaler. Follow me on Twitter.

Repeal Day is December 5th