The word “Scofflaw” has come to mean “A person who flouts the law, especially an unsustainable one.” But such was not always the case. It was in 1923, when Delcevare King, a member of the Anti-Saloon League, posed a contest to create a new word in order to combat the continued drinking which was going on during American Prohibition. The new word was to be one “which best expresses the idea of a lawless drinker, menace, scoffer, bad citizen, or whatnot, with the biting power of ‘scab’ or ‘slacker.'” The $200 prize elicited a huge response. On January 16th, 1924, the Boston Herald announced the winning word as “scofflaw”, with the winnings shared by the two Boston area residents, Henry Irving Dale and Kate L. Butler, who both submitted it. This was not the end of the story however, in just a little over a week, a salvo was launched from Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, where they created a new drink and christened it the “Scofflaw”.
I have three recipes. One is from Ted Haigh by way of Imbibe Magazine.
The Scofflaw Cocktail
- 1 1/2 oz. rye whiskey
- 1 oz. dry vermouth
- 3/4 oz. lemon juice
- 3/4 oz. grenadine
Combine with ice and shake. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a twist of lemon.
One is from Robert Hess.
Scofflaw
- 1 oz Canadian Club Whisky
- 1 oz dry vermouth
- dash grenadine
- 1/4 oz lemon juice
- dash Angostura Orange Bitters
Stir with ice, strain into a cocktail glass, and garnish with an orange twist.
Mr. Hess notes that he has a recipe in a book by the owner of Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, where the drink originated. That recipe is also the one printed at CocktailDB, as follows.
Scoff-law
- 1 dash orange bitters
- 1/3 Canadian Club Whisky
- 1/3 Dry Martini vermouth
- 1/6 lemon juice
- 1/6 grenadine
Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
A fourth arrived today from Gary Regan.
Scofflaw
- 2 oz Bourbon or rye whiskey
- 1 oz Dry vermouth
- .25 oz Fresh lemon juice
- .5 oz Grenadine
- 2 dashes Orange bitters
- Glass: Cocktail
Add all the ingredients to a shaker and fill with ice. Shake, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Try them all in celebration of Repeal Day.