The Telluride Historical Museum hosts their first annual winter fundraiser, 

The Social: Craft Cocktails of the Past on February 25, 2017

Join the Telluride Historical Museum for its first annual winter fundraiser, The Social: Craft Cocktails of the Past on Saturday, February 25, 2017, at 7:00 pm!  The event will take place at the Ah Haa School for the Arts and all proceeds will benefit the Telluride Historical Museum. The Social will celebrate the colorful history of alcohol while promoting local distilleries and distributors. The event will be a great opportunity for both locals and tourists to come out and support the Telluride Historical Museum while tasting turn of the century libations and enjoying stories of alcohol’s colorful past.

The craft cocktail as we know it is rooted in the 18^th Amendment of the US Constitution barring production, transport, and sale of alcohol.  Although mixed drinks and craft cocktails had been around prior to Prohibition, the need for softening the illegally produced spirits with sweeteners juices, and other fun ingredients increased significantly during the 13 year period of Prohibition.

The Museum’s fundraiser will not only explore the colorful history of Prohibition but will also dive briefly into the history of hooch as far back as Colonial North America.  Fun facts on several types of alcohol including, rum, whisky, vodka, & gin will be on display throughout the event for party goers to discover and enjoy.  For example: did you know that rum is a distilled byproduct of sugarcane, such as molasses. At the beginning of the sugar trade, molasses had virtually no value which made rum one of the cheapest liquors to produce. After being initially distilled in the Caribbean in the 1600s, rum quickly made its way to North America where the colonists embraced it with open arms.

Tickets are $35 in advance or $45 at the door.  The ticket price includes two free drink ticket and tasty appetizers. While this is not characterized as a theme party, the Museum knows everyone loves to dress up so don’t be shy about dressing in your Prohibition-era best. Other fun events include a selfie photo booth and wine and beer wall raffle. Event sponsors include Durango Craft Spirits, Montanya Rum, Wolf Pig Mobile Bar, Buffalo Trace, Sutcliffe Vineyards, Telluride Distilling Company, Eagle Rare, and Colonel Taylor.  To purchase tickets in advance you can contact the museum at 970-728-3344, visit their website at www.telluridemuseum.org, or stop by the Museum at 201 West Gregory Ave.