Our Blog

The Speakeasy Journal

Stories, Sips & Secrets from
Prohibition-Era Chicago

Welcome to our blog—where history pours over the rim. From deep dives into infamous gangsters and hidden speakeasies to cocktail recipes and behind-the-scenes tour stories, this is your hub for all things Prohibition. Whether you’re a history buff, cocktail enthusiast, or curious traveler, there’s something here for you.

The Devil Made Me Dance; Jazz’s Impact on Prohibition

The Devil Made Me Dance; Jazz’s Impact on Prohibition

During Prohibition, and especially in Chicago, jazz was a cultural touchstone that riled just as many in anger as it…

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What Would Abe Lincoln Drink?

What Would Abe Lincoln Drink?

This being the month that we celebrate former President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday in the “Land of Lincoln,” it only seems…

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The Laws for Some Have Never Applied to All

The Laws for Some Have Never Applied to All

Were the hallowed halls of the United States Capitol Building dry during Prohibition?  Not at all!  These drinkers, though, didn’t…

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Was it All So Simple Then?

Was it All So Simple Then?

When we think about the 1920’s, we have a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time.  Alcohol was illegal, but…

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Yes, Even You, Dr. Seuss

Yes, Even You, Dr. Seuss

Oh, the places you’ll go.  You can’t drink it in a bar, you can’t drink it in your car.  You…

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Maybe Don’t Celebrate Valentine’s Day in Chicago

Maybe Don’t Celebrate Valentine’s Day in Chicago

For better or worse, Chicago is infamous for its St. Valentine’s Day Massacre and no amount of candy hearts and…

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Inside Chicago Prohibition Tours

Inside Chicago Prohibition Tours

“Cheers to 100 years” Last weekend the company celebrated that on January 17th 1920 the 18th amendment (which had been…

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Prohibition At The Palmer House

Prohibition At The Palmer House

Chicago’s historical landmarks can tell a story.  If the walls inside Chicago’s famous Palmer House could talk, the stories would…

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The College Kidnapers that Took on Capone

The College Kidnapers that Took on Capone

The ingenuity of college students should never be underestimated.  Especially college students desperate for booze, attention, and cash.  It’s doubtful…

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