New York Distilling Company and Prohibition
Prohibition.. We all know the stories around this era of Americas distilling history and although this happened many years ago the ripple effects are still noticeable throughout America even today..
The first signs of Prohibition came around in the 1820s and ’30s when a wave of religious revivalism swept across the United States leading to increased calls for temperance. In 1838, the state of Massachusetts then passed a temperance law banning the sale of spirits in less than 15-gallon quantities and although the law was repealed two years later it set a precedent for such legislation.
Maine passed the first state prohibition laws in 1846 which was followed up by a stricter law in 1851, a number of other states soon followed suit and by the time the Civil War began in 1861 prohibition had become more widespread.
The of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which banned the manufacture, transportation and sale of intoxicating liquors ushered in a period in American history known as Prohibition.
By the turn of the 20th century, temperance societies became a common fixture within communities all across the United States and women were at the forefront of the movement to abolish sales of spirits and alcohol, in 1906 a new wave of attacks began on the sale of spirits.
In 1917, after the United States entered World War I, President Woodrow Wilson instituted a temporary wartime prohibition in order to save grain for producing food. That same year, Congress submitted the 18th Amendment, which banned the manufacture, transportation and sale of intoxicating liquors, for state ratification. Though Congress had stipulated a seven-year time limit for the process, the amendment received the support of the necessary three-quarters of U.S. states in just 11 months.
Ratified on January 29, 1919, the 18th Amendment went into effect a year later, by which time no fewer than 33 states had already enacted their own prohibition legislation. In October 1919, Congress passed the National Prohibition Act, which provided guidelines for the federal enforcement of Prohibition. Championed by Representative Andrew Volstead of Minnesota, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, the legislation was more commonly known as the Volstead Act.
Enforcement of Prohibition
Enforcement was initially assigned to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and was then later transferred to the Justice Department and the Bureau of Prohibition. Prohibition was enforced much more strongly in areas where the population was sympathetic to the legislation–mainly rural areas and small towns–and much more loosely in urban areas. In addition, the Prohibition era encouraged the rise of criminal activity associated with bootlegging.
The high price of bootleg spirits meant that Americas working class and poor were far more restricted during Prohibition than middle or upper class Americans. Even as costs for law enforcement, jails and prisons raised sharply, support for Prohibition was waning by the end of the 1920s.
In 1932 the country was now in the Great Depression, creating jobs and revenue by legalizing the liquor industry had an undeniable appeal. Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt ran for president that year on a platform calling for Prohibition’s appeal, and easily won victory over the incumbent President Herbert Hoover. FDR’s victory meant the end for Prohibition, and in February 1933 Congress adopted a resolution proposing a 21st Amendment to the Constitution that would repeal the 18th. The amendment was submitted to the states, and in December 1933 Utah provided the 36th and final necessary vote for ratification. Though a few states continued to prohibit alcohol after Prohibition’s end, all had abandoned the ban by 1966.
On the 78th anniversary of the end of Prohibition in New York the New York Distilling Company opend its doors in Brooklyn, the intention was to produce a high end product aimed at the cocktail market so both Gin and Rye whiskies were produced. not only did they decide to produce the spirits they also opened their own dedicated bat right next door to the distillery where you can go enjoy the rye, Gin and an odd cocktail or two as well as bespoke tastings..
That Boutique-y Whisky Company..
Its getting harder and harder to find new things to tell you about the independent bottler TBWC but one very interesting fact is they now produce a podcast titled “Uncorked” where Boutique-y Dave and DR Whisky himself Sam Simmons discuss all things whisky in their own very wacky way !! ( https://tunein.com/podcasts/Sports–Recreation-Podcasts/Uncorked-Whisky-Sessions-p1250735/ )
Day 3..
2 Year old From New York Distilling Company
Distillery.. New York Distilling Company
Region.. New York USA
Age.. 2 years
Style.. Rye
Cask.. American Oak
Abv.. 47.7%
Nose.. Dried fruits mingle with candied orange, chocolate and a subtle minty note lurking in the background. Subtle hints of spices caress old leather books and damp grass.
Palate.. Very typical rye spices explode upon arrival which then lead nicely into dried fruits, chocolate and freshly scraped orange peel. A hint of vanilla and toffee bring in some sweetness but this is all about those spices.
Finish.. Lingering spices
Thoughts.. This is only 2 years old and already gives so much flavour and big bold aromas that really do entice you into the glass.. Superb stuff from both the New York Distilling Company and That Boutique-y Whisky Company..
For an alternative view then check out
ocdwhisky.com 