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HOME OF THE PICKLE PIZZA BY LINDA HARRIS I PHOTOS BY DEVIN MACK
Have you ever wondered, why recently independent distilleries and craft breweries are popping up all over NY? Did you know, for a 13-year period, alcohol manufacturing was banned in the United States? Rochester Woman Online wanted to know, so we could share this interesting piece of history with you, our readers. The first distillery in NY showed its face around 1640 (1). The Prohibition dried up most of the distilleries until recently, when they began to make a comeback in 2004 (1). NY is one of the top five craft spirit producers, with as of (2015) a 2.4-billion-dollar retail business (1). As for the breweries, there are approximately 6,000 producers responsible for the brewing in the United States (2). In 1920, the 18th amendment was passed forbidding the sale, manufacturing and distribution of alcohol (3). This was during the great depression and contributed to it widely (3). This movement was pushed by a lobbying force referred to as the “drys”. The push behind the ban was an action to decrease immigration, strengthen families and increase morality (3). It was largely a religious push (3). The ban did basically nothing but push alcohol to the black market/bootlegging and became a dangerous substitution when people began distilling their own alcohol (3). It is estimated 1,000 people a year died between (1920-1933) from alcohol poisoning (3). The biggest 154
ROCHESTER WOMAN ONLINE :: NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
impact of the prohibition was economical as the government lost an 11-billion-dollar tax revenue during the time the prohibition took place (3). The urban population, for the most part, opposed the prohibition and a repeal movement began (3). The prohibition increased violent criminal acts as opposed to decreasing crimes (3). The repeal movement was largely based on the encroachment of
freedom (3). In 1922, the 21st amendment was passed repealing the 18th amendment and America was wet again! (3). Al Capone made millions. This movement attributed to the birth of “speak easy and jazz music private venues” (3).
MAKING NY WET AGAIN LAKEWARD SPIRITS
RWO took a road trip! Just over an hour away, we headed off to Buffalo, NY. Many
of us have visited the mall, passed through stopping off on the way to Niagara Falls, or even spent a day watching the Buffalo Bills. We all know about Anchor Bar and the Buffalo Chicken Wings. Do you know about the Barrel Factory? Its an awesome building which houses some cool businesses! Among them are Lakeward Spirits and Pressure Drop Brewing.
L A K EWA R D S P I R I TS DISTILLING WITH THE DIVAS!
There was a downfall in the “Buffalo area, malt houses” after the prohibition was lifted by the 21st amendment. Lakeward Spirits is a one-of-a kind distillery, found within the Barrel Factory. This is a 115-year-old (1903) building located in Buffalo’s 1st Ward on the Tecumsah Canal. The bricks were made onsite when the 40,000 sq. foot factory was erected. The entire building was rebuilt using repurposed metal which provides a special cozy environment in an industrial, old world back drop. Some of the wood used in the building’s restoration include wood from a 200-year-old barn. It is a family-owned business, where the moto is “creation, stewardship, community, #looklakeward!” Their products include Grain Canyon Vodka, Evergreen Gin, Inland Sea Rum, and Wild Gin. The cocktails served are considered a work of love and art. On any given day, stop in and grab a “Porch Peach” or a “Bees Knees”. Maybe you’d