Prohibition: Gangster’s Paradise
The most irrational and cruel law in human history was passed in 1920, the United States Prohibition. Alcohol was made illegal.
It may have been made illegal but alcohol was still bought and drunk. There were exemptions, you could still get alcohol on medical or religious grounds, but whilst many were suddenly struck sick or found a new and voracious piety, many others turned to the ‘bootleggers’ of the black market.
The Prohibition era saw the rise of the five families of New York, as well as the most famous underworld figure of the time, Al Capone. These were the founders of what we now call the American Mafia.
Al Capone made a trip to Scotland during Prohibition setting up deals to smuggle whisky into the states. Another mafioso, Frank Costello was so involved with whisky that it is alleged he tried to purchase the Edradour distillery.
Prohibition was eventually overturned and whisky would flow a little easier in the states.
We’ll leave it there for the history of whisky. If you would like to know a little more about the history, don’t forget to subscribe. We’ll send you articles amongst other stuff for a little light reading.
