The Volstead cocktail was first published in Harry McElhone’s 1927 Barflies and Cocktails, where he notes “This cocktail was invented at the Harry’s New York Bar. Paris, in honour of Mr Andrew J. Volstead, who brought out the Dry Act in U. S. A. and was the means of sending to Europe such large numbers of Americans co quench their thirst.”

The same recipe can also be found in William J. Tarling’s 1937 Cafe Royal Cocktail Book.