The Very Many Classic Cocktails of Black History

Mixology and bartending have a rich history that dates back to the early 19th century. However, the contributions of Black Americans in this field have been largely overlooked. It wasn't until the late 19th and early 20th centuries that black bartenders began to make their mark - in fact, these mixologists invented many of the classic cocktails enjoyed by...imbibers around the country too this day. See the list below.

One notable figure in the history of black mixology is Tom Bullock. Born in Louisville in 1872, he worked at the St. Louis Country Club before the Prohibition era of the 1920s. He was also the author of "The Ideal Bartender," which was published in 1917 and became the first cocktail book written by an African American.

Cities such as New York, Chicago, and Washington D.C. were some of the locations where black bartenders thrived. Cato Alexander, one of the first African American barmen, was born in New York in 1780 and was freed by the state's "Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery." By 1810, he had opened his own establishment, which he named after himself .

1. **The Tom Collins**: This refreshing cocktail was invented by a black bartender named Tom Collins in the mid-19th century. It's made with gin, lemon juice, sugar, and soda water.

3. **The Manhattan**: This cocktail was invented by a black bartender in the late 19th century. It's made with whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters.

2. **The Old Fashioned**: This classic cocktail was invented by a black bartender named Jerry Thomas in the 19th century. It's made with bourbon, sugar, bitters, and a twist of citrus.

4. **The Mint Julep**: This cocktail was popularized by black bartenders in the southern United States in the 18th century. It's made with bourbon, sugar, water, and fresh mint.

5. **The Daiquiri**: This cocktail was invented by a black bartender named Jennings Cox in Cuba in the late 19th century. It's made with rum, lime juice, and sugar.