It includes a manual for the manufacture of cordials, liquors, fancy syrups, etc. The history of cocktails and cocktail books is an interesting one. The father of american mixology, jerry thomas 183085 wrote the first cocktail book and was the most famous bartender of his era. Appears in 10 books from 18301928 page 44 put into a tumbler about a dozen sprigs of the tender shoots of mint. He is best known for the new and improved bartenders manual, an influential book that contained many original cocktail recipes, as well as the first written recipes of such cocktails as the marguerite and a version of the martini. Professor jerry thomas first celebrity bartender whiskey club. Thomas authored the first cocktail book bartenders guide, how to mix drinks back in 1862 and who was considered the godfather of american mixology the tom and jerry is a steamy sweet drink spiked with brandy and rum and topped with a. Guide a complete cyclopedia of plain and fancy drinks by jerry thomas.
In a cocktailbesotted era, thomas was first without equals, an inventor, showman and codifier who. May 26, 2017 within this befogged prospect a few monuments of mixology loom large, and of these perhaps the most colossal is the professor jerry thomass the bartenders guide. Before he turned his interest in mixing drinks into a cocktail book, you would have found thomas working as a bartender at a hotel in san francisco. Jul 20, 2016 originally published in 1862, jerry thomas bartenders guide is widely considered by drink historians as the first serious american book on cocktails and punches. Legendary bartender jerry thomas 18321885 whose name was once synonymous with quality in the world of highend drink, compiled this seminal volume in 1862. In 1862 thomas finished the bartenders guide alternately titled how to mix drinks or the bonvivants companion, the first cocktail book ever published in the. Jerry thomas 1862 bartenders guide is considered the first cocktail book, and this reproduction is based on the first published edition. Jerry thomas s most popular book is the bartenders guide. Hingston was looking at none other than jerry thomas, the jupiter olympus of the bar, to lift a phrase from the bartenders own drink book, the first ever published in the united states. The most famous bartender of his day, thomas wrote the first bartender s guide, how to mix drinks, or the bon vivants companion, in 1862. In a cocktailbesotted era, thomas was first without equals. This drink recipe book is probably the most famous bartenders and cocktail book of all times, and it was the first real cocktail book ever published in the united states. He also wrote the first cocktail book, the bon vivants. Pdt bar book for a long time, this was my go to recommendation for people who wanted to jump into the world of at home cocktails.
Here, the historian and writer tackles the entertaining history of the american cocktail via the story of bartender jerry thomas. Jerry thomass arcane gin cocktails by the gin is in. Jerry thomas to whom the famous savoy cocktail book is dedicated presents 236 recipes for social drinks apart from water and those of the breakfast and. The book collected and codified what was then an oral tradition of recipes from the early days of cocktails, including some of his own creations.
He developed showy techniques, such as the blue blazer, and promoted himself heavily in images and product. Finally, new york has a cocktail library the new york times. Jun 29, 2016 in 1862, jerry thomas published the bartenders guide, the first book of cocktail recipes. A natural showman, thomas toured the united states as a celebrity bartender, paving the way for others to follow suit. This is the most complete first edition a reprint of the very first 1862 edition of jerry thomas bartenders guide how to mix drinks or a bon vivants companion. The first cocktail book in 1862, jerry thomas published the first ever cocktail book in the united states titled the bartenders guide, how to mix drinks or the bonvivants companion. In 1862, thomas finished the bartenders guide alternately titled how to mix drinks or the bonvivants companion, the first drink book ever published in the united states.
First appearing in jerry thomass 1862 how to mix drinks, the japanese cocktail is accompanied with no explanation of its namesake, nor do its ingredients lead one to believe it. Page 79 of jerry thomass seminal 1862 work how to mix drinks, or the bon vivants companion has always stood out to me. From absinthe cocktail to whiskey smash, a salute in stories and drinks to professor jerry thomas, pioneer of the american bar and the new book punch. A complete guide of must read ebooks, podcasts and. The first bartending superstar long, long before tom cruise was shaking up drinks in cocktail, jerry thomas was making theatre behind the bar. It is the complete reprint of the very first 1862 edition of jerry thomas bartenders guide how to mix drinks or a bon vivants companion. He had saloons in california and new york below barnums american museum. The bartender who started it all the new york times. Written by the grandfather of mixology jerry thomas, the bartenders guide was the beginning of what would become a popular genre in the world of books. Jun 19, 2017 unabridged text of the jerry thomas 1862 bartenders guide, offered here for chump change. A complete reprint of the very first 1862 edition of jerry thomas bartenders guide how to mix drinks or a bon vivants companion.
Thomas was a flashy showman, who toured the united states as a highlypaid celebrity bartender and pioneered the way for others. On december 15, 1885, the front page of the new york paper, the world, announced the death of the man many consider the founding father of modern bartending. Dive into an opulent universe of punches, cobblers, toddies, slings, sours and a host of other classic oldworld cocktails. Aug 07, 2009 outside of his love of the handlebar mustache, he is credited for writing the first modern cocktail book. The work would essentially define the american school of drinking for the next centuryandahalf. What are the best vintage cocktail books tasting table. Wondrichs wit is electric as he digs through dense history, presenting wild and wondrous tales with authority. It was first known as how to mix drinks, or the bon vivants companion and published in 1862 with a manual for the manufacture of cordials, liquors, fancy syrups, etc, etc by christian schultz appended at the back, since any good bartender was. David wondrich is the author of the james beard awardwinning book imbibe.
Jerry thomas to whom the famous savoy cocktail book is dedicated presents 236 recipes for social drinks apart from water and those of the breakfast and teatable. This homage is as characterful as its name sake, so join in, get experimental and doff your hat to the man who brought us the first ever published cocktail book. Oct 30, 2008 this is the most complete first edition a reprint of the very first 1862 edition of jerry thomas bartenders guide how to mix drinks or a bon vivants companion. This book is a fascinating read about the first celebrity bartender jerry thomas and a handson approach to early cocktail culture. The book collects and codifies what was then an oral tradition of recipes from the early days of cocktails, including some of his own creations. Imbibe, his 2007 tribute to professor jerry thomas, has become an essential text for bartenders and cocktail geeks alike and was the first cocktail book to win a james beard award. Jerry thomas was a legend in his own time having run famous bars on both coasts. The 1862 bartenders guide is the first cocktail book, in its first version, now in an affordable reprint as it first appeared, in hardback. Wondrich, a writer and cocktail historian, recently updated and repackaged the book, adding new historical findings and expanding the recipe section for. In 1862 thomas finished the bartenders guide alternately titled how to mix drinks or the bonvivants companion, the first cocktail book ever published in the united states.
About 100 recipes litter the chapters, culled from thomas book. The first drinks book in the english language to contain recipes for cocktails, the bartenders guide or how to mix drinks by jerry the professor thomas. Thomas may well have served this recipe to the actual prince of wales. Professor jerry thomas first celebrity bartender 22nd august 2017 whilst the english may have pioneered the notion of mixing drinks, it was in america during the nineteenth century that creativity really started to blossom and the gilded age of mixed drinks began. In 1887, jerry thomas published the bartenders guide, the first book of cocktail recipes. Harry johnson was an american bartender who owned and operated saloons across the us in the late 19th century and the early 20th century. Jerry thomas wrote the bartenders guide, which is also titled how to mix drinks, and the bonvivants companion. More than just a historical depiction, it tells the story of thomas through thomas own drink recipes and the history behind each. How to mix drinks first edition jerry thomas bauman rare books. Dozens, if not hundreds, of other books appeared in the decades between thomas s and the enactment of prohibition. This 1862 edition includes a manual for the manufacture of cordials, liquors, fancy syrups, etc. While many of the drinks in his book still seem current and are made today, these three stick out as relics of spirits and gins distant past. He was the first celebrity bartender and at his best, thomas made the same wages as the vice president of the time. Pdf jerry thomas bartenders guide 1862 reprint download.
This is the most complete first edition with 258 pages, in a goodtoread 6x9 format. Thomas october 30, 1830 december 15, 1885 was an american. The book, published in 1862, included recipes for both his own creations as well as popular drinks like the brandy daisy and tom collins. Jerry thomas has 29 books on goodreads with 734 ratings. The proprietor of saloons in california and new york, he developed showy techniques and engaged in heavy selfpromotion. The 11 best cocktail books of 2020, according to experts. In fact, its first run printing in 1862 seems to, at least historically, put it as the first cocktail book. Originally created back in the 1850s as a winter cocktail at st. This drink recipe book is probably the most famous bartenders and cocktail book of all times, and it was the first.
Originally published in 1862, jerry thomas bartenders guide is widely considered by drink historians as the first serious american book on cocktails and punches. It is considered the first cocktail book, and this reproduction is based on the first published edition. The first version, published in 2007, received a james beard award for its rich dive into the life and work of jerry thomas, a bartender credited with popularizing cocktails in the mid1800s. It seems like every niche or industry has a handful of holy grail books out there. The bartenders guide or how to mix drinks by jerry thomas. This is a nostalgic and delicious homage to a drinking era that is gone but not forgotten.
Page 33 in twenty quarts of french brandy put the peels of thirty lemons and thirty oranges, pared so thin that not the least of the white is left. In 1862, thomas finished bartenders guide alternately titled how to mix drinks or the bonvivants companion, the first drink book ever published in the united states. Jul 20, 2016 the father of american mixology, jerry thomas 183085 wrote the first cocktail book and was the most famous bartender of his era. Jerry thomas bartenders guide jerry thomas 9780486806211. Thomas is perhaps best known as the author of bartenders guide or the bonvivants companion, the first book of cocktails published in the u. Jun 22, 2016 the father of american mixology, jerry thomas 183085 wrote the first cocktail book and was the most famous bartender of his era. The intended recipient of this recipe would either know what was meant by pine, or would only be in a. Jerry thomas bartenders guide how to mix drinks 1862. New yorkbased mixologist pamela wiznitzer is the creative director at seamstress ny. It was of the first cocktail recipe books ever written and published. Launched into an america heady with gold rush fever and divided by a vicious civil war, the book offered by way of diversion a collection of almost alchemical recipes and fantastical techniques that still dazzle today. The jerry thomas speakeasy arises from the idea of bringing back to light a forgotten classic mixing style. The bitter truth jerry thomas aromatic bitters for old. Jerry thomas brandy punch cocktail published in the firstever cocktail book, the jerry thomas brandy punch is still one of our alltime favorites.
The first important date is 1862 when the first american cocktail book appeared. Books by jerry thomas author of the bartenders guide. The cocktails origins are obscure, but the wording in thomass book suggests that this was part of the oral tradition he was codifying as the recipe assumes a pine monoculture. Cocktail writer david wondrich has written a book about jerry thomas. Phil wills dog haus biergarten trader vics 1947 bartenders guide. Read about the first celebrity bartender, jerry thomas, and why hes still. First published in 1862, thomass short book was the first ever printed guide to mixing cocktails.
Punch, his 2010 followup, has helped refill the flowing bowl around the world. It can be served long or short, a pleasure to be shared either way. The first known cocktail manual of any regard is jerry thomass book of 1862. Nov 30, 2018 what was the first truly rare cocktail book that you found. Oct 31, 2007 hingston was looking at none other than jerry thomas, the jupiter olympus of the bar, to lift a phrase from the bartenders own drink book, the first ever published in the united states. Thomas was the godfather of flair bartending, the spiritual ancestor of tom cruise in cocktail, the author of the worlds first surviving cocktail book, and a new york icon, too. Outside of his love of the handlebar mustache, he is credited for writing the first modern cocktail book. How to mix drinks first edition jerry thomas bauman. Jerry thomas, the professor whos who in beverage bevvy. Unabridged text of the jerry thomas 1862 bartenders guide, offered here for chump change. For every recipe, rathbun illuminates the story of the drink. Jerry thomas was arguably the first truly celebrity bartender and is credited with creating classics like the flip, sour, and tom collins.
The 10 best bartending guides and cocktail books of 2020. The book includes an extensively researched biography of jerry thomas, as well as the majority of thomas cocktails, taken directly from his books and adapted to modernday measurement methods ie. This 1862 edition includes a manual for the manufacture of. Thomas 18301885 considered the father of american mixology, wrote the first cocktail book and was the most famous bartender of his time. It struck us that a list of all the social drinks of america would really be one of the curiosities of jovial literature. May 14, 20 day 6 whiskey cocktail the bartenders guide. The book includes 450 recipes divided into 12 chapters with titles such as a multitude of martinis, pacifying a crowd punches, fresh faces newer creations, and shooting the moon. Dozens, if not hundreds, of other books appeared in the decades between thomass and the enactment of prohibition. Imbibe from absinthe cocktail to whiskey smash, a salute in.
How to mix drinks or the bon vivants companion by jerry thomas is regularly considered the grandaddy of all cocktail books. After running this first bar, thomas went on the road for several years, working. In honor of professor jerry thomas, formerly the principal bartender at the metropolitan hotel, new york and the planters house, st. Its known variously as the bartenders guide, how to mix drinks, and the bonvivants companion. Since richard cook wrote the first known dedicated book in the english language. The first known cocktail manual of any regard is jerry thomas s book of 1862. With a status equivalent to any of todays celebrity chefs, his death made front page news in his home of new york and his life story continues to impress. A new beverage is the pride of the bartender, and its appreciation and adoption his crowning glory, declared jerry thomas 183085, the most famous bartender of his era. The book was first published in 2007 and was the first cocktail book to win a james beard award.
Jerry thomas the bartenders guide how to mix drinks. A buyers guide to vintage cocktail books serious eats. How to mix drinks first edition jerry thomas bauman rare. It is considered the first cocktail book, and this reproduction is based on the first. Have ready thirty quarts of cold water that has boiled. The first american cocktail book was published in 1862. A natural showman, thomas toured the united states as a celebrity bartender. The library begins with the first cocktail book ever printed in 1862, jerry thomas bartenders guide. He was the first celebrity bartender and at his best, thomas made the same wages as the vice president of the. In 2010 a group of bartenders decided to open a small club in the heart of rome in which colleagues, spirit passionate, curious and industry representatives could meet and share their expertise and knowledge.
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