Yes, there is a place in the cocktailian United States where a bartender can spend a year in jail for serving some of the most common cocktails. A 75 year-old law in Virginia makes it illegal for an establishment to sell any mixed drinks in which beer or wine is combined with distilled spirits. That eliminates a lot of drinks, including almost every wine and Champagne cocktail (on my list the Bellini is the only "legal" mix) and many of the popular dropped shots (ie. Boilermaker, Irish Car Bomb and Flaming Dr. Pepper). But it has been that popular brandy and wine punch, Sangria that has been getting the attention because it is a staple at many Spanish restaurants. The archaic law was passed in Virginia just after the repeal of Prohibition, supposedly to discourage people from drinking overly intoxicating beverages. Finally up for review, the law may change soon but until then the would be Sangria serving restaurants in the state are serving un-Sangria.
Elit Midnight Millionaire Cocktail Photo Courtesy of: © Stoli Vodka
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