Jerry Thomas (bartender) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jerry Thomas
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Thomas mixing his signature drink: The Blue Blazer
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| Born | October 30, 1830 |
| Died | December 15, 1885 (aged 55) |
| Occupation | bartender |
Jeremiah "Jerry" P. Thomas (October 30, 1830 – December 15, 1885) was a famous American bartender. He owned and ran several bars, called saloons, in New York City. Many people call him "the father of American mixology." This is because he helped make cocktails popular all over the United States.
Jerry Thomas also wrote the first important book about cocktails, called Bar-Tender's Guide. He was known for being very creative and putting on a show when he made drinks. He helped make bartending seem like a professional and artistic job. Because of his skills, people often called him "Professor" Jerry Thomas.
Contents
Jerry Thomas's Early Life and Travels
Jerry Thomas was born around 1830 in Sackets Harbor, New York. When he was young, he learned how to mix drinks in New Haven, Connecticut. Later, he sailed to California during the California Gold Rush.
In California, Jerry Thomas worked as a bartender. He also tried his hand as a gold prospector and managed minstrel shows. His father left him some money, which helped him travel and try different jobs.
Running Bars and Traveling the World
In 1851, Jerry Thomas moved back to the East Coast. He settled in New York City and opened his first bar. It was located near Barnum's American Museum. This was the first of four bars he would own in New York City.
After running his first bar, Thomas traveled for several years. He worked as a head bartender in many cities. These included St. Louis, Missouri, Chicago, Illinois, and San Francisco, California. He also worked in Charleston, South Carolina and New Orleans, Louisiana.
At one point, he even toured Europe. He brought along a special set of bar tools made of solid silver. Jerry Thomas was famous for his showmanship. He used fancy and exciting ways to mix cocktails. Sometimes, he would even juggle bottles and cups. He often wore flashy jewelry. His bar tools and cups were decorated with valuable stones and metals. At the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco, he earned a lot of money. He made $100 a week, which was more than the Vice President of the United States at the time.
The Bar-Tender's Guide Book
In 1862, Jerry Thomas finished his book, Bar-Tender's Guide. It was also called How to Mix Drinks or The Bon-Vivant's Companion. This was the very first drink recipe book ever published in the United States.
The book gathered many drink recipes that were passed down by word of mouth. It also included some of Jerry Thomas's own creations. The guide explained the basic rules for making all kinds of mixed drinks. He updated the book several times during his life. He added new drinks he found or invented.
The first edition of the guide included the first written recipes for drinks like the Brandy Daisy and Fizz. It also had recipes for the Flip, Sour, and different kinds of Punch. The 1876 edition of the book included the first written recipe for the Tom Collins cocktail.
Creating the Blue Blazer Drink
Jerry Thomas created his most famous drink, the Blue Blazer, in San Francisco. He made it at the El Dorado gambling saloon. To make this drink, he would light whiskey on fire. Then, he would pour the flaming whiskey back and forth between two mixing glasses. This created an amazing arc of flame.
Thomas kept inventing new drinks throughout his life. His recipe for the "Martinez" drink was published in the 1887 edition of his guide. Some people think this drink was an early version of the modern martini. Jerry Thomas also said he invented the Tom and Jerry drink. He definitely helped make it very popular in the United States.
Life in New York City
After his travels, Jerry Thomas returned to New York City. He became the head bartender at the Metropolitan Hotel. In 1866, he opened his own bar again. This bar was on Broadway between 21st and 22nd Streets. It became his most famous place.
Jerry Thomas was one of the first people to display drawings by the famous artist Thomas Nast. In his bar, he hung Nast's funny drawings of important people. One drawing, which is now lost, showed Thomas "in nine tippling postures." His bar also had funhouse mirrors. Today, this historic bar building is a Restoration Hardware store.
Jerry Thomas was a very active person in the city. He dressed in flashy clothes and liked to wear kid gloves. He also had a gold watch from Paris. He enjoyed watching bare-knuckle prize fights. He was also an art collector and loved to travel.
When he was older, he was married and had two daughters. He was a good sport and joined the Fat Men's Association. He was one of the lighter members at 205 pounds. He also had a special interest in gourds. In the late 1870s, he was the president of The Gourd Club. He earned this title after growing the largest gourd.
Later Years and Passing
Towards the end of his life, Jerry Thomas tried to make money by investing in Wall Street. However, he made some bad choices and lost a lot of money. He had to sell his successful bar and auction off his large art collection. He tried to open a new bar, but it was not as popular as his famous one.
Jerry Thomas passed away in New York City in 1885. He was 55 years old and died from a stroke. Many newspapers across the United States wrote about his death. The New York Times said that Thomas was "at one time better known to club men and men about town than any other bartender in this city, and he was very popular among all classes." He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York City.
Places Connected to Jerry Thomas Today
- The Delta Saloon, Virginia City, Nevada
- Occidental Cigar Club, San Francisco: This club honors the history of The Occidental Hotel. In the 1860s, the hotel was known as the first real cocktail lounge in San Francisco. Jerry Thomas was the main bartender there. He is even thought to have invented the Martini. The club has wood etchings from his book on its walls. It tries to keep his spirit alive in the drinks they serve.
- The Jerry Thomas Speakeasy, Rome, Italy
Jerry Thomas's Legacy and Honors
- In March 2003, a special event honored Jerry Thomas. It was held at the Oak Room in the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Bartenders gathered to make many of the cocktails from his books. This event was organized by David Wondrich, who wrote a book about Thomas. It was also supported by Slow Food, an organization that promotes traditional food.
- Jerry Thomas is featured in the exhibits at The Museum of the American Cocktail. This museum was founded in 2004.
- Cocktail writer David Wondrich wrote a book about Jerry Thomas. It is called Imbibe!: From Absinthe Cocktail to Whiskey Smash, a Salute in Stories and Drinks to "Professor" Jerry Thomas, Pioneer of the American Bar. The book includes a lot of information about Jerry Thomas's life. It also has most of his cocktail recipes, updated for today's measurements. The book was first published in 2007. It was the first cocktail book to win a James Beard Award. Wondrich published an updated version in 2015 after more research.
- A bar in Rome, Italy, called The Jerry Thomas Speakeasy, is named after him.
