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History of the Cocktail: Out of the Dark Ages: 1970s-1990s

• Date: Saturday, October 17, 2015
• Time: 7:00 pm
• Location: National Archives Museum, Washington, DC

Though we often think of Prohibition as endangering cocktail culture the most, drugs, social revolution and youth culture might have had a shade more to do with the changes in drinking that marked the 1970s and 80s. From Disco to Grunge, cocktails seemed anachronistic or, worse, overly stylized and superficial in their construction. The question remains: was this a dismal time for drinking or is there some smidgeon of fun and creativity we might draw from this era?

Moderated by Fritz Hahn of the Washington Post, panelists include David Wondrich, Robert Simonson, and Simon Ford.

This seminar will include a tasting of specialty cocktails. Must be 21+ to attend.

This program is part of a series on the history of spirits and cocktails in America, curated by Derek Brown and presented by the National Archives Foundation in conjunction with the National Archives Museum exhibit “Spirited Republic: Alcohol in American History,” on display in the Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery through January 10, 2016.