Christian Schultz / Jerry Thomas
Jerry Thomas (1830-1885) was an American bartender. Due to his pioneering work in popularizing cocktails across the United States, he is considered 'the father of American mixology.' In addition to writing the seminal work on cocktails, his creativity and showmanship established the image of the bartender as a creative professional. As such, he was often nicknamed 'Professor' Jerry Thomas. In 1862, Thomas finished 'The Bar-Tender’s Guide' (alternately titled 'How to Mix Drinks or The Bon-Vivant’s Companion'), the first drink book ever published in the United States. 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; the guide laid down the principles for formulating mixed drinks of all categories. 3
