Pamela Watts:
ISCO toasts itself as the first distillery in Providence since the days of prohibition, which may be true in theory, but, in truth, ever-independent Rhode Island largely ignored the 18th Amendment.
Notorious New England crime boss Raymond L.S. Patriarca is believed to have made bootleg booze in the basement of Camille’s Restaurant in providence’s Federal Hill neighborhood, serving it in coffee cups to mobsters meeting in back alcoves.
But, nowadays, instead of a speakeasy, ISCO’s owners are just glad to have a spirited gathering spot for the community.
For the “PBS News Hour,” I’m Pamela Watts in Providence, Rhode Island.
