Obviously, the manufacture, sale and transportation of alcohol is no longer illegal in the United States, but this has not prevented Sandals Ochi Beach Resort in Ocho Rios, St Ann, from bringing the speakeasy bar concept to the Caribbean — the first of its kind at an all-inclusive resort and in the Caribbean.

Appropriately called The Rabbit Hole, it is nestled in plain sight on the resort formerly known as Sandals Grande Riviera Beach and Villa Golf Resort.

The entry point: An unmarked black door. But, wait; before you can step inside and be transported back to the 1920s, specifically to the Prohibition era, you had better know the password. However, if you don’t, the ‘bouncers’ might be willing to give you a few clues.

When Group Manager Food and Beverage at Sandals Resorts International Ricky DuQuesnay spoke to the Jamaica Observer ahead of the grand opening on April 11, he said the speakeasy idea was born out of the cocktail renaissance.

“In about 2008 when the cocktail renaissance got really big in the US and around the world, and people were coming up with more creative, out-of-the box cocktails, more speakeasies came about,” he said. “We kind of jumped on it.

“You will see speakeasies in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and major cities like London, and we decided that we could do that concept within Sandals and be very successful as the first all-inclusive resort to have a traditional speakeasy bar concept in the resort.”

He told the Observer that guests could expect a lounge-type evening of jazz with high-end cocktails all round. And that they did deliver!

From the black-and-white décor, lanterns lining the walls and uniquely designed clocks, to the chandeliers, framed mirrors that mimicked playing cards, and silhouettes of smoking women, the amphitheatre-styled, two-tiered speakeasy enveloped those granted access to the exclusive happenings.

Waitresses wearing flapper dresses with bow ties, and suspender-bound, fedora-wearing bartenders busied themselves to ensure that at each step every guest had a drink in hand from the premium list of champagnes, classic cocktails or classic martinis. The speakeasy concept reigned supreme.

But, there was more! Four dancing girls put on quite a show, much to the satisfaction of the patrons, leaving absolutely no surface untouched. They even climbed onto the bar counter to strut their stuff.

And, if patrons thought the abundance of liquor, dancing girls and pulsating background music were all The Rabbit Hole had to offer, they were in for a delightful surprise when singer Phylea Carley took to the floor and started belting out hit after hit, including Big Spender, Rather Be, Fever, Smooth Operator, At Last, among others.

She wore a brilliant red dress with her hair in “fingerwaves”, one of the most popular hairstyles of the 1920s. If that was not enough attention to detail, the opening night of the Caribbean’s first speakeasy even featured a ‘raid’ on the establishment.

The term speakeasy is said to have evolved out of the need to be discreet about serving alcohol during the Prohibition era, so people who had access to these premises would “speak easy”. So, as if on cue, four men entered The Rabbit Hole and demanded that everyone raise their hands. Before long, patrons realised that it was a simulation of the type of raid that was carried out by men upholding the laws of the time.

Although the situation was a bit ‘tense’ at first, the smooth singer convinced the ‘law men’ to allow her to give just one more performance before the patrons were ordered out of The Rabbit Hole.

So, what did guests have to say about the opening night? Wonderful, mind-blowing, home run, and amazing were a few of the words they used to describe the evening as they milled out of The Rabbit Hole with smiles plastered across their faces.

In fact, owner of Happily Ever After Travel Jason Vorderbruggen from Texas, USA, told the Observer that he has been to a few speakeasies that have not been able to capture the 1920s feel, but, for a first attempt, Sandals Ochi Beach Resort did a good job.

So, want the secret to getting into The Rabbit Hole?

DuQuesnay told the Observer that a new password is chosen each day and that guests should check with team members in order to experience the exclusivity and interactively awesome first-ever speakeasy bar concept in the Caribbean.