The Jerry Thomas Project is the re-creation of all of Jerry Thomas’ cocktails from Jerry Thomas’ Bar-Tenders Guide: Receipts for Mixing in their purest form. Jerry Thomas is considered America’s father of mixology publishing the first cocktail book in 1862.
Just going through the book thinking about what I should make today and I’m not going to make anything. Thomas’ book is filled with drinks that need not be in a recipe book – it’s almost like he was under gun point to have 275 recipes in his book. Here’s some of the recipes that Thomas is trying to lay claim to.
Brandy Straight and the Pony Brandy are under two separate headings, although they are exactly the same thing except the Pony Brandy gets a ice water back. Not quite sure how to make a Whiskey Straight or a Gin Straight – don’t worry, Thomas made sure to notate that it is just the same as the Brandy Straight except you use the according spirit.
Like your brandy with soda, well Thomas had you on his mind.
Brandy and Soda, just take two ounces of brandy, three lumps of ice, and top with plain soda. You Brandy and Soda drinkers (if there are any left alive in this country) might be surprised to know your cocktail of choice has another name, Stone Wall.
I’d be more concerned with this recipe if there was even one sherry drinker in the entire U.S. but I find it worth mention as Thomas felt it necessary to put it in his book.
Sherry and Ice – you think you guessed it? 2 ounces of sherry and three lumps ice. Well, you guessed wrong as no measurement is offered and you pour it into a decanter with two or three small lumps of ice to be handed over to the customer.
The Arf and Arf – Thoma’s rendition of a Black and Tan (mix a half glass of Porter or Stout with a half glass of Ale). Thomas even mentions which to pour first, “draw it mild, Mary, the ale first.”
The Half and Half is half old-world ale and half new-world ale which is what he calls, “the American Method.”
To check out other Jerry Thomas Project recipes – click here.
- Columbine Quillen
I am a mixologist bartender and this is my blog.