Posted on by Kerry Pelesky

Vintage Mint Julep recipes for your Kentucky Derby party!

mint julep
An illustration of a Mint Julep from “How To Mix Drinks, or The Bon-Vivant’s Companion” 1862

In preparation for the Kentucky Derby this Saturday, May 6th, I found these mint julep recipes in the book “How To Mix Drinks, or The Bon-Vivant’s Companion, Containing clear and reliable directions for mixing all the beverages used in the United States, together with the most popular British, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish recipes, embracing punches, juleps, cobblers, etc., etc., etc., in endless variety,” by Jerry Thomas – formerly principal bar-tender at the Metropolitan Hotel, New York, and the Planter’s House, St. Louis. 1862.

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Posted on by Kerry Pelesky

An Introduction to Vintage Cocktails

Man at bar
From an illustration in “How to Mix Drinks, or The Bon-Vivant’s Companion” by Jerry Thomas. 1862

From time to time, I would like to feature classic cocktail recipes that I find in my research. I have been fascinated by the variety and history behind some of the vintage cocktails that I have encountered – from a particularly memorable afternoon sampling absinthe for the first time at Antoine’s in New Orleans (no – I didn’t go blind), to visiting a prohibition-style cocktail bar in San Antonio, I have fond memories in my travels involving vintage libations and would like to explore the world of classic cocktail making further.

I found a particularly useful introduction to cocktails in “The Gorham Cocktail Book,” 1905.

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