Americana 250: Speakeasy Stories So Good They Should Be Illegal

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Monday, July 27, 2026

What happens when a nation tries to ban its own spirit?

This week, Culinary Confidential's Americana Series wraps up with one of the most dramatic and flavorful chapters in American history: Prohibition.

From 1920 to 1933, the 18th Amendment outlawed the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol. Instead of sobering up the country, it sparked an explosion of speakeasies, bootleggers, organized crime, and creative rebellion. Out of that era came a cocktail revolution and a whiskey culture that still defines American bars, innovation, and resilience today.

Joining Culinary Confidential once more is Noah Rothbaum - James Beard Award-winning author, whiskey historian, and Spirits Editor at Men’s Journal. One of the world’s foremost authorities on whiskey and cocktails, Noah is the author of the acclaimed new book, The Whiskey Bible, a definitive guide to the history, craft, and culture of America’s greatest spirit.

Whether you’re a history buff, a whiskey lover, a cocktail enthusiast, or simply fascinated by stories of defiance and ingenuity, this episode is one you won’t want to miss.

This is more than a conversation about drinks. It’s about rebellion, resilience, American ingenuity, and how a “dry” law forever changed the way we celebrate, create, and come together.