Bartenders and bowties

Bartender Jonathan Calo, right, serves drinks at The Speakeasy.

Chances are, you don't remember the 1920s. They were a lot like today, only without iPhones, flat screens, Twitter, civil unions, integration or legal alcohol. So, pretty close.

But lately, Charleston seems to be resurrecting a little piece of the roaring '20s, and it's not those sexy flapper dresses. It's prohibition.

Recently, Charleston has seen a trend of "speakeasy" type bars open around the city. In the '20s, cocktails weren't watered down with sour mix or tonic water. They were made to put a little hair on your chest, and Charleston is bringing them back full force.

First came The Gin Joint, a decidedly unpretentious bar on East Bay that opened in August. Although the decor doesn't really fit the era, the drinks certainly seem to.

You'll find cocktails mixed with everything, including homemade beet molasses, habanero-infused tequila and egg whites.

The coolest part? There's no vodka to be had. It didn't hit America until the '50s.

The Speakeasy and The Belmont soon followed suit.

The Belmont, on Upper King, is a lot of style with a little less substance. The atmosphere screams "trendy" with cloth cocktail napkins stamped with a big "B," a check-off menu for the sly souse and bartenders in full '20s get-ups. But the drinks, as well as the smattering of meats and cheeses offered, didn't quite have enough flavor.

The Speakeasy is the most authentic of the three. Like the real speakeasies, this bar sits unmarked behind the front of another business. Ask the hostess to bring you to The Speakeasy, and she'll shuffle you up a flight of stairs and into a small, dark hallway.

With just one ring of the bell, she'll summon the bartender who will finally crack the door and let you inside. The decor is all dark red, velvet and brown leather, evoking an unfamiliar time rife with secrets and scandals.

The cocktails are listed by dates of creation and although there are some newer concoctions, everything feels old.

In keeping with the word-of-mouth vibe of the bar, we won't tell you exactly where it is. But here's a hint: somewhere on East Bay Street.

And we can't leave out Husk, Sean Brock's new bar and restaurant that everyone seems to be talking about. They also specialize in old-fashioned cocktails, though not all are prohibition-era.

And there are more bootleggin' good times to be had in the future. Another speakeasy type joint, The Cocktail Club, will open on Upper King in April. This place boasts the only rooftop patio on the block.

Prohibition, which lasted from 1920 to 1933 in this country, was also known as "The Noble Experiment."

With Charleston's distinctive, old-fashioned vibe, we think these venues will live up to the nickname.