Americas First Celebrity Bartender

The cocktail is practically an American institution.took with him a set of solid silver bar utensils
One of the very first Bartenders to populariseconstructed at a cost of $4,000!
the cocktail was Jerry Thomas, Americas originalReturning to New York Thomas became the
"Celebrity Bartender". Thomas wrote what isprincipal bartender at the Metropolitan hotel. Then
widely considered as one of the first books toin 1866 he opened his most famous bar located
contain cocktail recipes, "The Bartenders Guide".on Broadway between 21st and 22nd Streets.
When I first came across this little volume (lastThomas was "an imposing and lordly figure of a
published in 1887) in a dusty old book shop I wasman, portly, sleek and jovial, yet possessed of
blown away. Here at last was cocktail history laidimmense dignity". His trade mark was a "jacket of
bare! I bought it on the spot and literally sat up allpure and spotless white which encased his great
night and read the book cover to cover. Forbulk". He also sported a huge moustache, in the
anyone with even a flicker of interest in cocktailsWalrus style! Obviously a man once seen, not
and drinks its an enthralling read. Jerry Thomas iseasily forgotten!
to cocktail culture what Louis Armstrong is toThe various saloons he operated became
Jazz!showplaces where he demonstrated his
Here at last, set down on paper, were some ofmixologist's art. They were very popular with the
the very first cocktail recipes ever recorded. Itsporting and theatrical celebrities of the day. To
was amazing, but it wasn't just cocktails, thequote the New York times on his death in 1885
book contained a host of other recipes, forhe was "at one time better known to club men
"Punch, Egg Nogs, Juleps, Smashs, Cobblers, Mulls,and men about town than any other bartender in
Sangarees, Toddies, Slings, Sours, Flips, Negus,the city, and he was very popular among all
Shrubs, Pousse Café, Cups" and many,classes".
many more.He is credited with inventing the "Blue Blazer" and
In total there were some 230+ original recipes.the "Tom and Jerry" and certainly popularised
Some were famous, some I'd never even heardmany other early cocktails and drinks. In
of! They represented an amazing cross-section ofreference to the Blue Blazer the Bartenders Guide
exciting and wonderful drinks.says, "The novice in mixing this beverage should
Jeremiah P. Thomas was born in Jeffersonbe careful not to scald himself. To become
County, New York in November 1830 and firstproficient in throwing the liquid from one mug to
learned the bartending trade in New Haven. Hethe other, it will be necessary to practise for
then went to San Francisco and the California goldsome time with cold water."
fields.Thomas's book was first published in 1862, and
In 1851 he opened the first of four saloons inquickly went through half a dozen printings. The
New York, below Barnum's Museum at Broadwaybook was updated in 1876 and the final edition
and Ann Street. He then seems to have travelpublished in 1887. In the first edition there were
around the US for several years. Working as headten recipes which Thomas referred to as cocktails
bartender at top hotels in St. Louis, Chicago, San(by the 1887 edition the cocktails numbered some
Francisco, Charleston, S.C., and New Orleans.20+). His book was probably the first to include
Slowly turning himself into Americas first celebrityactual recipes for cocktails and certainly the
bartender! In 1859 he visited London and Paris. Heworld's first bartender's guide.