W. C. Whitfield's Mixed Drinks and Cocktails: An Illustrated, Old-School Bartender's Guide

“We may go to Europe for our chefs, but Europe comes to us for our bartenders.” —W. C. Whitfield

In the Gay Nineties, the American bartender was considered an institution—his fame spread across the globe and, according to Whitfield, visitors to America “bowed before his skill in concocting tempting mixtures.”

Whitfield felt this attraction and admiration of the American bartender was because Americans “will try anything once.” We enjoy experimenting and, when it comes to mixing drinks, “we st...