liquers and coctails salved alcohol (at least in north america)

When Prohibition came round, all people could get was HARD ASS BATHTUB GIN. So, what did they do? They started mixing sugars and other stuff into the drinks to make them taste better! And now we have all sorts of tasty things. TASTY AWESOME.

I read it in a book about coctails. anyone wanna know how to make a Mint Julip? Or a Kir Royale?