5 Things You Didn't br Know About Bartending.br In honor of National Bartending Day, br here are some insights into br the origins of the trade.br 1. The word "cocktail" br was first used in Britain.br "Cock-tail" was likely first used br as a slang term for an English ginger drink. .br 2. Cocktails were br an American invention.br The first use of the word cocktails br as a mixed drink containing "spirits" br appears in a U.S. 1806 periodical, br 'Balance and Columbian Repository.'.br 3. Jerry Thomas br is considered the br 'Father of Mixology.'.br The American barkeep wrote br the first bartenders guide, 'The br Bon Vivant Companion.' Published in 1862, br the guide included Thomas' own drink recipes.br 4. Bartender 'Olympics' are real.br "Flair-tending" competitions br focus on a bartender's juggling br skills. The World Class Club focuses br on cocktail recipe creativity.br 5. The oldest pub has been in br existence for more than 1,000 years.