National Repeal Day

Hello Friends and family,

December 5 is special day to commemorate the repeal of the eighteenth amendment or if you're not familiar, the abolishment of prohibition. It was thought of as a good idea by the woman's Christian Temperance movement during the early party of the 20th century that alcohol was the cause of many social ills. One of the most famous was Carrie Nation who would go into bars with a hatchet in hand and start destroying the bar and get arrested for publicity. 

The the Volstead act ( eighteenth amendment ) was in tact from 1919 until  December 5th 1933. The law prohibited the production, sale and transport of intoxicating liquors but didn't define "intoxicating liquors" or provide penalties.  America's thirst for Alcohol increased along with organized crime and the growth of many speakeasies. This proved to be a failed attempt at trying to govern the moral fiber of the nation.

This is not a widely celebrated event but it commemorates Americans right to drink as they please. So Celebrate today by stopping by your favorite tavern, winery, pub or bring home your favorite spirit and raise a glass in honor of it and enjoy. For more information check out www.repealday.org or the Ken Burns documentary Prohibition .

God bless and Cheers,

John Apodaca

john@daddyosmartinis.com 

Ward Eight Cocktail

If ever there was cocktail with interesting history it has to be Ward Eight. The drink was named after Martin Lomasney a teetotaler who ran for the Massachusetts Senate in 1898 and a group of  his friends would gather at the Locke-Ober Cafe near the State Senate house asked the bartender to create a new drink in his honor. Bartender Tom Hussion is said to have put together whiskey lemon juice, orange juice and grenadine, naming it a Ward Eight after the old West End Boston neighborhood where Lomansney was the representative.

It turns out there is some controversy if Lomansney ran for a seat in 1898 or 1896 and when the drink first appeared. Not only didn't Lomasney drink but he didn't frequent the Locke-Ober Cafe and it turns out he was part of the temperance movement that led to prohibition. I've had this drink at the Copa D' Oro in Santa Monica and at 320 Main in Seal Beach and am very pleased with it's refreshing and smooth taste. If you're in either of those places be sure to try it or make it at home and let me know what you think.

Cheers,

John Apodaca

Ward Eight


2 oz of Rye Whiskey
1/2 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 oz fresh squeezed orange juice
1/2 oz grenadine

Shake all ingredients very hard for 20 - 30 seconds then strain into a chilled 4 oz cocktail glass.