Templeton Rye Whiskey, like bootleggers Al Capone and the son of bootlegger Meryl Kerkhoff, was born on January 17th.
In the middle of the nineteenth century, the term “bootlegger” began to be used in the Midwest. The term referred to the practise of bringing a flask of booze into a trading meeting with Native Americans and concealing it in the top of one’s boot. In 1920, when Congress passed the Eighteenth Amendment outlawing the production, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages, the phrase entered the lexicon of the United States.
Even though it was now against the law, Americans still wanted to quench their thirst with booze. Therefore, some distilleries began producing something legal, while others began producing bootleg alcohol.
To meet the rising demand, bootleggers smuggled in beer from Canada and Mexico and then distilled it in remote areas. They eventually returned with their booty, which they sold to local speakeasies, private citizens, and businesses.
It was also around this time that the terms rum-runner and moonshiner gained widespread usage.
The mythos surrounding bootlegging grew into legend. It was the illegal and well-organized business of bootlegging that gave rise to the Mafia. Names like Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, Alphonse Kerkhoff, and Bugs Moran carry with them an air of glamour, danger, and mystery.
Directon To celebrate National Bootlegger’s Day
Explore the history of the Prohibition Era. Consider taking in some tales or vintage films set in the prohibition era. Drink a bottle of Templeton Rye with your pals while you work. Be sure to post photos on social media using #BootleggersDay or #TempletonRye.
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History of National Bootlegger’s Day
Like the legendary outlaw Robin Hood, we all enjoy a good dose of subversion every once in a while. On National Bootlegger’s Day, we raise a glass to the risk-takers of Prohibition who gave their dangerous job a romantic tinge and made the stories of many bootleggers into folklore.
National Bootlegger’s Day was established by Infinium Spirits in 2015 to honour the creation of Templeton Rye whisky by farmers in Templeton, Iowa at the height of the prohibition. While Infinium Spirits carries many different brands, Templeton Rye deserves a day all to itself because of its storied past.
The term “bootlegger” was first used in the 1880s, in the middle of the United States. When trading booze with Native Americans, whites frequently hid flasks of alcohol in their boots; the military also made use of this ingenious technique.
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Flasks of booze were frequently smuggled into base camp by soldiers, who would conceal them in their shoes. The term eventually came to refer to any alcoholic beverage smuggler who did so via land. Rum-runners were people who transported alcoholic beverages illegally across international borders by means of water.
The Annual National Bootlegger’s Day Celebration
Gather your pals and toast the fact that the early 20th century’s dry spells were only broken by the efforts of bootleggers and rum runners. Dress up as your favourite character from the Roaring Twenties, whether it be a farmer who makes whisky, a mob boss from Chicago, or a singer at a speakeasy, and invite your friends to join in the fun.
Of course, there needs to be plenty of hooch for a National Bootlegger’s Day celebration. All of your friends can bring their favourite whisky to sample (including Templeton Rye), and you can always whip up a few cocktails, too. Having the ability to imbibe alcoholic beverages is a privilege that should be celebrated.
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And to really get into the spirit of the bootlegger, play some music from the 1920s at the party. Perhaps create a playlist on Spotify or some other online music platform that includes songs like the ones listed above.
When Did Dec. 5 Become Known As National Bootlegger’s Day, And Why?
The history of bootleggers reads like the script for a thrilling action movie.
The Roaring Twenties were characterised by a rise in automobile ownership, a burgeoning jazz scene, and the rise of a new type of woman who wore flapper dresses, short hair, and heavy makeup, all of which caused the more traditional members of society to raise an eyebrow or two. A cohort who bucked convention in favour of the “you only live once” philosophy.
Propelled by industrialization and economic prosperity in the years following World War I, the youth continued to riot unchecked until they were met with a heavy backlash in the form of the Eighteenth Amendment and the Volstead Act.
The making, buying, or selling of alcoholic beverages was outlawed by these statutes. The demand for alcohol continued to rise even after the legitimate channels for obtaining it were shut down.
