Jeremiah "Jerry" P. Thomas is considered the father of American mixology. In 1851, at the age of 21, he opened his first bar below Barnum's American Museum in New York City. After that he worked as the head bartender at hotels and bars throughout the US, he also visited Europe. Jerry Thomas was well known for his showmanship and fancy style of mixing cocktails. At some point he was among the most famous citizens of New York City. In 1862 Jerry Thomas finished his work "Bar-Tender's Guide", probably the first book of its kind ever published in the US. It contained a collection of traditional recipes as well as some of his own creations. The present book is a reprint of the original edition of the Bartender's Guide or Bon-Vivant's Companion which has first been published in 1862.