Welcome to Day 5 of the Advent of Cocktails 2025!

December 5th is also Repeal Day, so as we traditionally do, let's celebrate that with a Prohibition-Era cocktail. Today's cocktail is...

Cuban Cocktail

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History

The Cuban Cocktail appear in the 1920's cocktail book "For snake bites - or something". Here's a scan of the page with the cocktail in question.

According to Greg over at How To Drink, it can be found in many books from the period and had to be a popular drink, but forgotten, lost, as he's never seen it on a menu, never heard of anybody ordering it, never seen a youtube video on it. The video in question is about cocktails consumed in speakeasies during prohibition and can be found here

Since there's not much history on the Cuban Cocktail, for those unaware, here's the story behind Repeal Day and Prohibition

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Repeal Day

Repeal Day, celebrated on December 5th, marks the 1933 ratification of the 21st Amendment, which ended the nationwide ban on alcohol known as Prohibition. It’s the only time in U.S. history that one constitutional amendment repealed another, restoring Americans’ legal right to produce, sell, and consume alcoholic beverages.

Prohibition began in 1920 with the 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act, fueled by decades of temperance activism, religious influence, and Progressive-era reformers who believed banning alcohol would reduce crime and improve society. Instead, it led to widespread illegal drinking, the rise of bootlegging, speakeasies, and a surge in organized crime, as enforcement proved difficult and unpopular.

The Great Depression further shifted public opinion, as the government needed tax revenue that legalized alcohol could provide. Growing dissatisfaction ultimately led to the repeal of Prohibition in 1933. Today, Repeal Day is celebrated as a milestone for personal liberty and a reminder of the unintended consequences of attempting to legislate morality.

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Cuban Cocktail

Build in shaker. Add:

• .75 oz (22 ml) Lime Juice
• .75 oz (22 ml) Apricot Brandy
• .5 oz (15 ml) Gin
• .5 oz (15 ml) Brandy

Add ice and shake. Strain into glass

How To Drink rebalanced Cuban Cocktail

Build in shaker. Add:

• .75 oz (22 ml) Lime Juice
• .75 oz (22 ml) Apricot Brandy
• .5 oz (15 ml) Gin
• .5 oz (15 ml) Brandy
• 2 bar spoons Pre-Prohibition Grenadine (interesting note about this in the video, but grenadine will do)

Add ice and shake. Strain into glass

Cuban Cocktail (as seen in "For snake bites - or something", 1920)

• 1/2 shot lime juice.
• 1/3 shot gin.
• 1/3 shot brandy.
• 1/2 shot apricot brandy.
• Shake.

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Variations

Since we don't know much about the cocktail, there's not much to be said in terms of variations or riffs on it, but feel free to both check out previous year's Repeal Day cocktails below, or what other r/cocktails redditors have made previously in celebration of the day

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Previous December 5 cocktails

• AoC 2020: Scofflaw
• AoC 2021: Mary Pickford
• AoC 2022: Ward Eight
• AoC 2023: Monkey Gland
• AoC 2024: Leap Year

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Ingredient heads-up: Tequila and Dry Vermouth will be called for tomorrow

NB! Variations and your own riffs are encouraged, please share the result and recipe!

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