History isn’t always pretty, and sometimes there are eras that are as purple as a black eye.ĭetroit doesn’t hide from this or anything.

By 1935, their reign over Detroit’s underworld was over due to the persistence of brave police officers and a community that bonded together through harsh times.

It wasn’t Bond and his expensive Aston Martin that took down the Sugar House Gang. So when trying something new in The Sugar House, live by Ian Fleming’s words of wisdom: “ Never say no to adventure, always say yes.” It’s the result of intelligence paired with persistence - something very reflective of this city. The drinks here remind us that quality is never an accident. If you’re in the mood to break away from the benchmarks, peruse the rotating seasonal menu of custom vicious vices. This is the joint for a Sloe Gin Fizz, a classic Daiquiri, a Zombie, or a Sazerac. Take your pick of 101 classic concoctions and then sit and relax under the hung taxidermy creations. The dimly lit and subdued ambiance is well balanced for the weathered man who seeks a worn vintage setting. Inside feels like an gentlemen’s lodge, laced with wood and surrounded by stacked bricks that date back to 1888 you can’t help but imagine what these walls have seen. This is Detroit’s original craft cocktail haven. Their gang of barmen and women put The Sugar House upfront as the Motor City’s elite bar for eclectic spirits and craft cocktails. The Sugar House in Corktown makes up for those thirteen years of Prohibition while paying tribute to eras past. With Prohibition in full effect, Detroit winters became even colder with no liquor to warm the workers’ souls, so it was bootlegged deep within back alleys when shipments arrived. Name ring a bell?įor several years, they supplied the Capone organization with Canadian whisky and all booze into Michigan from Canada. The Sugar House Gang had a business partnership with Al Capone. These operations kept the gang rich, netting millions of dollars. This was Ian Fleming’s nod to the notorious Detroit gang that controlled Detroit’s underworld in the 1920s.Īlso widely known as the Sugar House Gang, this violent crew controlled gambling - especially on horse races and other sporting events - liquor sales, and many illegal trades. If you’re an avid James Bond enthusiast, one who has flipped through the pages of Ian Fleming’s novel Goldfinger, you might recall coming across a reference to The Purple Gang mentioned briefly within the story.

Bars near sugarhouse casino