Alberta's Prohibition-Era Cocktail Lounge
Lasandro Daisy (Left) & Blairmore Hotel (Right)
The Lasandro Daisy
The History
Built on The Mostly Untold History of Rum-Running in Alberta
During Prohibition, Alberta’s mountain passes became the setting for a lesser-known chapter of Western Canadian history, where liquor moved through the Crowsnest Pass and the lines between outlaw enterprise and legitimate business were not always so clear. At the centre of that story was Emilio Picariello, known as “Emperor Pic,” a hotel owner and entrepreneur whose operations in Blairmore became tied to one of the most infamous rum-running legends in the province.
Romero draws from that rich and mostly untold history, bringing the story of Alberta rum-running back into the conversation.
Emilio Picariello ("Emperor Pic")
Car in process of search during chase after son of Picariello, bootlegger, Blairmore, Alberta, 1922
The Alberta (Blairmore) Hotel, ca. 1920
Seizure of liquor at Crowsnest Pass by Alberta Provincial Police, 1925
During Prohibition, demand for alcohol did not disappear; it simply moved underground. In Alberta, the mountain passes of the Crowsnest created the perfect conditions for liquor to be moved quietly across regions and borders, turning places like Blairmore into strategic outposts in a growing rum-running trade. What emerged was not just a smuggling route, but a defining chapter of Western Canadian history shaped by risk, geography, and opportunity.
Tour & Tasting Experience
The Untold Stories of Prohibition, Alberta & Rum Distillery Tour
The Tour & Tasting includes a guided tasting of our international award-winning rums over stories of Alberta's prohibition-era rum-running, followed by a tour of the distillery to learn about the rum-making process. The experience concludes with the creation of a custom bottle of rum, yours to take home.
Connect with Us
@RomeroLoungeYYC
