Bathtub Gin (speakeasy)

Bathtub gin refers to any homemade spirit produced during the Prohibition era in the United States (1920-1933). The term specifically implies that the spirit was produced in a crude manner, often in home bathtubs or other large containers to allow for the mixing of the base alcohol with flavoring agents. Due to the federal ban on the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages, legitimate liquor supplies were unavailable. This drove enterprising individuals to create their own, often using industrial alcohol (which was sometimes denatured with dangerous chemicals) as a base, and then adding ingredients like juniper extract, citrus oils, and other botanicals to mimic the flavor of real gin.

The quality of bathtub gin varied wildly, and it often contained harmful impurities. The illegal and unregulated nature of its production meant there was no quality control, and consumers risked serious health consequences, including blindness and even death. Despite the dangers, bathtub gin became a popular symbol of the rebellious spirit of the Roaring Twenties and the widespread disregard for Prohibition laws. It was commonly served in speakeasies, illegal establishments that sold alcohol during this time. The speakeasies themselves were often raided by law enforcement, adding to the clandestine nature of the era. The term "bathtub gin" remains a lasting reminder of the ingenuity and the risks associated with circumventing the law during the Prohibition era.