Blue Blazer

Created in 1849 by 'Professor' Jerry Thomas at the El Dorado Saloon, San Francisco. Thomas began his career as a bartender in 1845 at the age of 20 at a saloon in his home town of New Haven, Connecticut. He suffered from wanderlust, and worked in San Francisco, the Yuba River goldfields, Central America, New York, South Carolina, Chicago, St. Louis (Planter's House), and New Orleans, and toured Liverpool, London and Paris. His genius for inventing highly successful mixed drinks led to him being dubbed 'Professor', and ultimately becoming the most famous and highly regarded bartender of his generation. Thomas made this drink famous by perfecting the technique of igniting the whisky and tossing the flaming liquid between two silver tankards, thus mixing the ingredients whilst illuminating the bar with liquid fire. President Grant was so impressed he gave Thomas a cigar. This recipe is delicious on a cold winter evening and is reputed to make even the worst cold or flu a little more bearable. Thomas refused to serve it until the thermometer fell below 10 degrees.