SYMHC Live: Gin Cocktails and Jerry Thomas

Nov 27, 2023

The hosts discuss cocktail history with iconic bartender Jerry Thomas. They explore the origins of the Tom Collins cocktail and the differences between fizz and Collins cocktails. They also share the recipe and history of the bee's knees cocktail. The chapter then focuses on the life and career of Jerry Thomas, highlighting his bartending jobs and book of cocktail recipes.

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Introduction

00:00 • 3min

The Origin of the Tom Collins Cocktail

02:49 • 10min

Differences between Fizz and Collins Cocktails and a Sponsor Break

12:27 • 2min

The Bee's Knees: A Classic Gin Cocktail with Honey and Lemon

14:03 • 3min

Jerry Thomas: The Influential Bartender

16:48 • 25min

Growing Pumpkins and Enjoying Pumpkin Blossoms

41:28 • 4min

This episode was recorded (mostly) live at the AC Hotel Los Angeles South Bay, where we talked about Collinses, the Bees Knees, and a man who is iconic in bartending history.

Research:

Brown, Jared, and Anistatia Miller. “Is the Bee’s Knees Cocktail Making a Comeback?” Imbibe Live. Feb. 22, 2022. https://live.imbibe.com/en-gb/blog/spirits-and-cocktails/bees-knees-cocktail-comeback.html
“The Gourd Club.” New York Times. May 10, 1878. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1878/05/10/80682606.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0
Garrett, Dylan. “Tom Collins.” Liquor.com. Sept. 5, 2023. https://www.liquor.com/recipes/tom-collins-2/#:~:text=The%20Tom%20Collins%20is%20basically,essentially%20a%20gin%2Dsour%20spritz.
Grimes, William. “The Bartender Who Started It All.” New York Times. Oct. 31, 2007. https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/31/dining/31cock.html
Grimes, William. “CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK; Shaken, Stirred or Mixed, The Gilded Age Lives Again.” March 26, 2003. https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/26/dining/critic-s-notebook-shaken-stirred-or-mixed-the-gilded-age-lives-again.html
“In and About the City: A Noted Saloon Keeper Dead.” New York Times. December 16, 1885. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1885/12/16/103643963.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0
Kurash, Jody. “Cocktail of the Month: It’s the Bee’s Knees!” The Georgetowner. Sept. 14, 2022. https://georgetowner.com/articles/2022/09/14/cocktail-of-the-month-its-the-bees-knees/
Rothbaum, Noah. “Frank Meier, The Paris Ritz’s Mysterious Bartender Spy.” The Daily Beast. Aug. 2, 2015. https://www.thedailybeast.com/frank-meier-the-paris-ritzs-mysterious-bartender-spy
Sutcliffe, Theodora. “Jerry Thomas.” Difford’s Guide. https://www.diffordsguide.com/encyclopedia/2882/people/jerry-thomas
“Tom Collins.” Yorkville Enquirer. June 11, 1874. https://www.newspapers.com/image/339414525/?terms=%22Tom%20Collins%22%20&match=1
“Tom Collins in Town.” Carlisle Weekly Herald. July 9, 1874. https://www.newspapers.com/image/269986710/?terms=%22Tom%20Collins%22%20&match=1
Difford, Simon. “Collins Cocktails – recipes and history.” Difford’s Guide. https://www.diffordsguide.com/encyclopedia/490/cocktails/collins-cocktails-recipes-and-history
Mazzeo, Tilar J. “The Hotel on Place Vendome: Life, Death, and Betrayal at the Hotel Ritz in Paris.” Harper. 2014.
“Molly Brown Biography.” Biography.com. April 27, 2021. https://www.biography.com/activists/molly-brown
Seiter, Matt. “The Ricky and the Collins: Two Cocktail Classics.” Feast. Feb. 27, 2015. https://www.feastmagazine.com/recipes/the-rickey-and-the-collins-two-cocktail-classics/article_40844aa2-bdd7-11e4-9031-2f85f8e5854c.html
Thenon, Georges Gabriel. “Cocktails de Paris.” Editions Demangel. Paris. 1929. Accessed online: https://euvs-vintage-cocktail-books.cld.bz/1929-Cocktails-de-Paris/72/
Wondrich, David. “Imbibe!” Penguin. 2015.

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