[COCKTAILS] The Bar-Tender's Guide: or How to Mix All Kinds of Plain and Fancy Drinks

New York: Fitzgerald Publishing Company Successor to Dick & Fitzgerald, 1887. Paperback. Yellow wraps. Near Fine. 130 pages. 18.5 x 12 cm. Thomas, considered the "the father of American mixology," originally wrote this seminal work on cocktails in 1862. A first for the United States, this guide codified what was then an oral tradition of recipes from the early days of cocktails. This Third edition includes all of the high points in mixology including Thomas' signature drink, the "Blue Blazer," which involved lighting whiskey afire and passing it back and forth between two mixing glasses, creating an arc of flames. Also notable for the addition of the Martinez, accepted by cocktail aficionados as the early Martini. Attractive softcover with light cover edgewear, attractive spine, initials in pencil at top right corner of cover and title page. Rear board with lightest smudging. Scarce in extremely good condition.