Jerry Thomas
From Chanticleer Society
Identified by Imbibe Magazine as one of “The Top 25 Most Influential Cocktail Personalities of the Past Century”[1]:
- "Yes, he came and went before our 100-year cutoff, but considering that Jerry Thomas continues to influence cocktails and bartenders to this day, we think his impact is timeless. Considered nothing less than the father of American mixology, his seminal The Bar-Tender’s Guide (alternately titled How to Mix Drinks or The Bon-Vivant’s Companion), published in 1862, was the first cocktail book ever published in the United States. Not only that, his larger-than-life personality and showman’s skills—he was famous for mixing flaming drinks—set the tone for every bartender who came after him."