Royale Cocktail Studies Part II: Saint Louis Legends, An Ode to Pre-Prohibition Cocktails

Inspired by the long running tradition of the Cocktail Museum, we kindly welcome you to Cocktail Studies in IV Parts at The Royale. We hope you enjoy our latest investigation into the evolution of the cocktail. We will be digging into the history, science, and cultural impact that spirits and how we enjoy them have had on our society (locally and globally) from the 1300’s to pre-prohibition.

Hours Available
Mondays 4:00pm -Close
Thursdays 11:30am - 4:30pm
Fridays 11:30am - 4:30pm

Before the 1920’s brought prohibition, St. Louis was hosting some of the biggest names in bartending including Tom Bullock, Jerry Thomas, and William Boothby along with being credited for throwing the first cocktail party just over on Lindell Blvd (by a woman, Clara Belle Walsh…gasp!)

Tom Bullock’s contributions as a pioneering mixologist broke racial barriers and once you learn who he is, it’s impossible to not be utterly impressed. Starting in elite clubs in Kentucky, he came to St. Louis in 1909 becoming a fixture at the St. Louis Country Club, where he became the first African American to publish a cocktail book in 1917, The Ideal Bartender. His book not only provided recipes but also reflected the social dynamics of the time. The publication was made possible through the patronage of August Busch, Sr. and George Herbert Walker who heaped praise upon Tom. Walker was given the privilege of writing the introduction and espouses “For the past quarter century…I doubt if has erred in even one of his concoctions.”

Tom’s prowess behind the bar garnered so much respect it peripherally involved him in a libel suit with President Theodore Roosevelt. When the former president was called a “drunk,” he argued that he’d only had one sip of a mint julep. The St. Louis Post Dispatch was quick to call ludicrous remarking “Who was ever known to drink just a part of Tom’s?”

Champagne Velvet $9
½ prosecco, ½ Stout
Choice of Maplewood Brownie Points, Third Wheel Riot Girl, Perennial Abraxis

Dream $11
Hayman’s Old Tom Gin, Simple, Lemon, Cream, Crème de Menthe, Wonderfoam

Clover Club $12
Tanqueray, Pomegranate Syrup, Dolin dry vermouth, Lemon Juice, Wonderfoam

Blackthorne Sour $14
Hayman’s Sloe Gin, Bahnez Mezcal, Boomsma Cloosterbitters, Lime, Pineapple, simple

Some Tom Celery $13
Tom’s Town Botanical Gin, Celery, Lemon, Pineapple, Juniper Simple, Angostura Bitters

Celery Sour (NA) $9
Lemon juice, Pineapple Syrup, Celery Juice, Angostura Bitters, Club

Black Cow (NA) $6
Excel Frosty Root Beer, Cream, Vanilla