Proof

100 Proof: The Dark Ages (Episode 5)

Jul 3, 2024

Exploring the 'Dark Ages' of cocktails from the 1950s to the 1990s, featuring iconic drinks and their impact on cocktail history. Learn how TGI Fridays, Madonna, and the Cosmopolitan shaped this era of American mixology. Dive into the influence of historical events on bartending culture and Audrey Saunders' journey in the cocktail industry.

37:30

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The Dark Ages of cocktails, marked by drinks like Long Island Iced Teas, offered valuable contributions to cocktail history.

World War II's impact on American bartending included a surge in vodka popularity and disruptions in traditional mentorship.

Deep dives

Evolution of Cocktails in America

Cocktails in America have evolved through various stages, beginning with boozy mixed drinks like the mint julep and the sazerac which had medicinal origins. The Golden Age of cocktails introduced classics like the martini, Manhattan, and the daiquiri. Prohibition led to innovative cocktails like the Bee's Knees and the Bloody Mary. The subsequent Dark Ages saw a decline in cocktail quality, marked by popular drinks like the Long Island iced tea and Midori Sour.

Intro

2min

The Impact of World War II on American Distilleries

2min

The Impact of Historical Events on American Bartending and Cocktail Culture

6min

Exploration of Cocktail History and Evolution at TGI Fridays and Rainbow Room

16min

The Journey of Audrey Saunders in the Cocktail Industry

6min

The 1950s to the 1990s are often dubbed as the cocktail's Dark Ages where drinks like Long Island Iced Teas and Midori Sours reined supreme. The drinks from this time are often reviled or ridiculed, but they made important contributions to cocktail history, too. In this episode: How TGI Fridays, Madonna, and the Cosmopolitan helped define this era of the American cocktail.

Further Reading:

A Proper Drink by Robert Simonson

"1970s Ockctails & Disco Drinks" Difford's Guide

"History of the Nightclub" American Nightlife Association

"How TGI Fridays Has Influenced Modern Craft Cocktail Culture" in The Thrillist by Kevin Alexander

Spirits, Sugar, Water, Bitters by Derek Brown with Robert Yule

Straight Up or on the Rocks: The story of the American cocktail by William Grimes

"TGI Fridays Was Once The Hottest Bar In America—What Happened?" in Delish by Hannah Selinger

"The Legacy of Joe Baum" in Edible Manhattan by Nancy Matsumoto

The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails (Edited by David Wondrich & Noah Rothbaum)

"The Soviet Union Paid Pepsi With Vodka and Warships in Decades-Long Barter" in Vinepair by Ashlie Hughes (Illustrated by Gerry Selian)

"This is the Story of the Rainbow Room" in Punch by Joshua David Stein