The Great Gatsby took place in 1922, smack dab in the middle of Prohibition – one of the worst periods to be alive because you couldn’t just run down to the corner store and buy a six-pack. Back then, gettin’ your drank on meant gulping bathtub gin, sneaking to speakeasies or attending giant parties at your rich neighbor’s house in Long Island.
While Jay Gatsby wasn’t much of a drinker himself, he hung out with a boozy crowd, hosting lavish gatherings laden with illegal libations. Almost 100 years later, boozing is now perfectly legal, but in honor of The Great Gatsby premiere this weekend, we thought it was only fitting to go on a tour of Prohibition-era drinks through some of Boston’s most speakeasy-esque bars.
Here are five places to get your Gatsby in the Hub. Cheers!
Bee’s Knees at Drink – In Gatsby’s era, gin came from bathtubs, and to sweeten it up, imbibers would add honey and lemon, a drink that became known as the Bee’s Knees. Today, we may not have bathtub gin, but Drink in Fort Point still whips up a mean Bee’s Knees cocktail in honor of the Prohibition era.
Franklin Sidecar at Franklin Café – A twist on the 1920s classic, Franklin Café’s version of the Sidecar includes brandy, Mathilde Pear liquor, lemon juice and a sugared rim. Don’t worry – it’s just as stiff as the original recipe.
French 75 at Bogie’s Place – Hidden inside jm Curley, this restaurant within a restaurant practically screams speakeasy. The dimly-lit backroom steakhouse – aptly named after Hollywood icon Humphrey Bogart – is known just as much for their supper club vibe as they are their cocktails. Try the French 75. “Class in a glass,” says the menu.
Jack Rose at Eastern Standard – The inventive cocktail list at Eastern Standard is certainly something to be marveled at, but head there and kick it old school. Eastern Standard’s Jack Rose features the standard applejack and lemon juice, but they take it up a notch with pomegranate juice. Mmm.
Old Fashioned at Saloon – Located in Davis Square, Saloon’s vibe is more Wild West than West Egg, but its cocktail list would be Gatsby party guest-approved. While the drink menu rotates quite frequently, the basement speakeasy is pretty adamant on offering you an Old Fashioned whenever your heart desires. Made of whiskey, sugar and bitters, Old Fashioneds can often be garnished with Maraschino cherries and orange slices.
Where are your favorite spots to order Prohibition-era drinks in Boston?
