For years, they were as much a part of a New York summer as packed beaches, food carts and rooftop parties.
Sold out of coolers in parks, on street corners and even through social media, the Nutcracker and the Phrostie became underground legends across the five boroughs. But unlike cocktails served inside licensed bars, these colorful drinks eventually drew the attention of city authorities, who cracked down on their illegal sale because they were being distributed without permits, outside alcohol regulations and with completely unknown recipes.
Their ban only made them more famous…