Tommy Jirry: Jerry Thomas Speakeasy’s Modern Tequila Classic

Photo Credit: Alberto Blasetti

Hidden behind an unmarked door in Rome’s Centro Storico, the Jerry Thomas Speakeasy feels like stepping into another century — a dimly lit temple to mixology where history, craft, and a touch of mischief all collide. Named for the “Professor” himself, the father of American bartending, this award-winning bar has built a cult following for its ability to make the past feel thrillingly modern.

Its latest menu captures that ethos perfectly. Here, tradition meets innovation: a curated celebration of Forgotten Spirits, time-honored classics, and rare, meticulously sourced ingredients. Each cocktail is a conversation between eras — reviving lost recipes, reimagining old techniques, and exploring the fringes of what spirits can be.

Driven by curiosity and an unapologetically avant-garde spirit, The Jerry Thomas Speakeasy isn’t just serving drinks; it’s preserving cocktail history while rewriting its future, one meticulously crafted pour at a time.

Photo Credit: Alberto Blasetti

Our cocktail of the week pick is the Tommy Jirry, which, says co-founder Roberto Artusio, dates back to over a decade ago, a moment of great cocktail revolutions, while experimenting with new ingredients and sprits, “modern” cocktail techniques and new flavors. Agave spirits were quite booming, and the selection of fruit liquors and syrups were wider than ever before. Maracuja and ginger have always been very important ingredients for classic cocktails, and featuring them in a twist on a Tommy’s Margarita — a drink that was becoming extremely popular among the agave lovers coming from the far San Francisco in USA — made the drink become one of the best-sellers of our bar since then.. It’s slightly spicy due to the habanero bitters and chili chipotle, but the capsaicin from the pepper — in this very balanced taste and amount — makes the drink taste even fresher.”

30ml Tequila Blanco
10ml Mezcal Espadin
20ml Fresh lime juice
15ml Maracuja syrup
5ml Ginger syrup
Habanero bitters

Salt & chili chipotle rim