A delightful history of cocktails from the era of new interstate highways, sprouting suburbs, and atomic engineering America at midcentury was a nation on the move, taking to wings and wheels along the new interstate highways and in passenger jets that soared to thirty thousand feet. Anxieties rippled, but this new Atomic Age promised cheap power and future wonders, while the hallmark of the era was the pleasure of an evening imbibing cocktails in mixed company, a middle-class idea of sophisticated leisure. This new age, stretching from the post-World War II baby boom years through the presidency of General Dwight Eisenhower into the increasingly volatile mid-1960s, promised affordable homes for those who had never dreamed of owning property and an array of gleaming appliances to fill them. For many, this was America at its best-innovation, style, and the freedom to enjoy oneself-and the spirit of this time is reflected in the whimsical cocktails that rose to prominence: tiki drinks, Moscow mules, Sea Breezes, Pina Coladas, Pink Squirrels, and Sloe Gin Fizzes. Of course, not everyone was invited to the party. Though the drinks were getting sweeter, the racial divide was getting more bitter-Black Americans in search of a drink, entertainment, or a hotel room had to depend on the Green Book for advice on places where they would be welcome and safe. And the Cold War and Space Race proceeded ominously throughout this period, as technological advances alternately thrilled and terrified. The third installment in Cecelia Tichi's tour of the cocktails enjoyed in various historical eras, Midcentury Cocktails brings a time of limitless possibilities to life though the cocktails created, named, and consumed.

Jay McInerney on wine? Yes, Jay McInerney on wine! The best-selling novelist has turned his command of language and flair for metaphor on the world of wine, providing this sublime collection of untraditional musings on wine and wine culture that is as fit for someone looking for “a nice Chardonnay” as it is for the oenophile.

On champagne: “Is Dom Pérignon worth four bottles of Mo‘t & Chandon? If you are a connoisseur, a lover, a snob, or the owner of a large oceangoing craft, the answer . . . is probably yes.”
On the difficulty of picking a wine for a vegetarian meal: “Like boys and girls locked away in same-sex prep schools, most wines yearn for a bit of flesh.”
On telling the difference between Burgundy and Bordeaux: “If it’s red, French, costs too much, and tastes like the water that’s left in the vase after the flowers have died, it’s probably Burgundy.”
On the fungus responsible for the heavenly flavor of the dessert wine called Sauternes: “Not since Baudelaire smoked opium has corruption resulted in such beauty.”

Includes new material plus recommendations on the world’s most romantic wines and the best wines to pair with a meal

New Orleans lays claim to so many things-jazz, Mardi Gras, festivals, and food-so it makes perfect sense that the Big Easy would be the home of the first cocktail. After all, libations are a New Orleans custom. In this brilliantly photographed book, Kit Wohl has compiled more than sixty luscious beverage recipes, both traditional and eccentric, from the city's legendary and quirky establishments. From highfalutin to down home, New Orleans's bartenders take great pride in their art. Included in this compilation are well-crafted concoctions designed for lazy afternoons, for before or after meals, for cocktail parties, or for topping off an evening. Sip and savor a Sazerac, Absinthe Suissesse, Pimm's Cup, Obituary Cocktail, and dozens more with the help of this collection. The latest addition to the Classic Recipes Series, this compilation provides recipes and techniques paired with the inspiration behind each drink. All infusions are home-tested with the nonprofessional mixologist in mind.

It was Rachel Signer's dream to be that girl: the one smoking hand-rolled cigarettes out the windows of her 19th-century Parisian studio apartment, wearing second-hand Isabel Marant jeans and sipping a glass of Beaujolais redolent of crushed roses with a touch of horse mane. Instead she was an under-appreciated freelance journalist and waitress in New York City, frustrated at always being broke and completely miserable in love. When she tastes her first petillant-naturel (pet-nat for short), a type of natural wine made with no additives or chemicals, it sets her on a journey of self-discovery, both deeply personal and professional, that leads her to Paris, Italy, Spain, Georgia, and finally deep into the wilds of South Australia and which forces her, in the face of her "Wildman," to ask herself the hard question: can she really handle the unconventional life she claims she wants? Have you ever been sidetracked by something that turned into a career path? Did you ever think you were looking for a certain kind of romantic partner, but fell in love with someone wild, passionate and with a completely different life? For Signer, the discovery of natural wine became an introduction to a larger ethos and philosophy that she had long craved: one rooted in egalitarianism, diversity, organics, environmental concerns, and ancient traditions. In You Had Me at Pet-Nat, as Signer begins to truly understand these revolutionary wine producers upending the industry, their deep commitment to making their wine with integrity and with as little intervention as possible, she is smacked with the realization that unless she faces, head-on, her own issues with commitment, she will not be able to live a life that is as freewheeling, unpredictable, and singular as the wine she loves.

"Those that pick up But First, Champagne . . . will be richly rewarded . . . White never loses sight of what makes the region a truly unique place, perhaps the only place that could give birth to the world's most magical wine." -Tasting Panel Knowledgeable wine enthusiasts have always revered Champagne. The region and its wines are associated with prestige and luxury, of course, but historically, most consumers kept champagne way back on the high shelf, reserving it for post-bowl game blowouts, send-offs, and wedding toasts. Over the past decade, however, an increasing number of wine enthusiasts have discovered the joys of grower champagne-wines made by the farmers who grow the grapes. Today, Champagne is in the midst of a renaissance. And thanks to a few key wine importers and the farm-to-table movement, consumers everywhere are finally paying attention. In But First, Champagne, David White details Champagne's history along with that of its wines, explains how and why the market is changing, and profiles the region's leading producers. These profiles will bring a new perspective to the Champagne that is home to dozens of engaging, inspiring, authentic winegrowers who today produce fantastic and affordable products. This book is essential reading for wine enthusiasts, adventurous drinkers, and foodies. With a comprehensive yet accessible overview of the region, its history, and its leading producers, But First, Champagne will demystify Champagne for all. From the foreword: "Smart, entertaining, and valuable . . . one of those rare wine books that should appeal to people just getting into Champagne and longtime Champagne obsessives." -Ray Isle, Executive Wine Editor, Food & Wine

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a person in possession of this good book must be in want of a drink. Winner of the Gourmand Award in the Gin category (US). In six enduring novels, Jane Austen captured the fancies and foibles of Regency England, and every delightful page of this book celebrates the picnics, luncheons, dinner parties, and glamorous balls of Austen's world. At these social engagements, gossip reigned, love flourished, and drinks flowed. Discover an exotic world of cobblers, crustas, flips, punches, shrubs, slings, sours, and toddies, with recipes that evoke the past but suit today's tastes. Raise your glass to Sense and Sensibility with a Brandon Old-Fashioned, Elinorange Blossom, Hot Barton Rum, or Just a Dashwood. Toast Pride and Prejudice with a Cousin Collins, Fizzy Miss Lizzie, Gin & Bennet, or Salt & Pemberley. Brimming with enlightening quotes from the novels and Austen's letters, beautiful photographs, and period design, this intoxicating volume is a must-have for any devoted Janeite.

We are familiar with the medical opinion that a daily glass of wine is good for the health and also the rival opinion that any more than a glass or two will set us on the road to ruin. Whether or not good for the body, Scruton argues, wine, drunk in the right frame of mind, is definitely good for the soul. And there is no better accompaniment to wine than philosophy. By thinking with wine, you can learn not only to drink in thoughts but to think in draughts. This good-humoured book offers an antidote to the pretentious clap-trap that is written about wine today and a profound apology for the drink on which civilisation has been founded. In vino veritas.

Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book is the essential reference book for everyone who buys wine - in shops, restaurants, or on the internet. Now in its 41st year of publication, it has no rival as the comprehensive, up-to-the-minute annual guide. Hugh Johnson provides clear succinct facts and commentary on the wines, growers and wine regions of the whole world. He reveals which vintages to buy, which to drink and which to cellar, which growers to look for and why. Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book gives clear information on grape varieties, local specialities and how to match food with wines that will bring out the best in both. This new edition also contains a colour supplement on Syrah and Garnacha grapes.

Lager your loaves, beer your brioche, pale ale your pretzels, dunkel your dough... just pour a pint to bake something extra special. The brew will add a unique depth of flavor to baked goods from bread to biscuits. Here are 75 fun recipes that use a variety of beers-golden ales to Belgian blondes, chocolate porters to juicy IPAs-and take baking to the next luscious level: Cream Ale Irish Soda Bread, Honey Whole Wheat Blonde Bread, and Cheese and Herb Pale Ale Bread. Each recipe includes multiple suggestions for beers, with information on how different types will taste once baked. It's also not all about the yeast; in addition to loaves and rolls that need to rise, there are easy quick breads, muffins, biscuits and scones. Featuring beautiful photography Beer Bread is the must-have book for anyone who "kneads" beer to live.

An elegantly bound collection of fine wine writing past and present - the perfect gift for wine lovers everywhere (or the wine lovers in their life). With contributions from Michael Broadbent on good and bad vintages, Ian Maxwell Campbell on Bordeaux vs Burgundy, George Orwell and PG Wodehouse on the complementary pleasures of wine and tea, Randall Grahm on the search for California's 'magic grape' and Andrew Caillard MW on the art of the wine label, it brims with wit and wisdom from some of the most erudite wine writers ever to raise a glass. Also includes Steven Spurrier, Jason Tesauro, Jane MacQuitty, Giles MacDonogh, Philippe de Rothschild, Fiona Morrison MW, Dan Keeling, Charles Walter Berry and many more. Like Cyril Ray's classic Compleat Imbiber before it, In Vino Veritas might rightfully be described as 'the quintessential late-evening or bedtime book for those who like wine'. 'Denied wine's bridge to gregariousness, "cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in to saucy doubts and fears," as Macbeth once complained, we need an antidote, and rummaging around in this anthology of wine writing is a good one: It's a set of keys to open the windows and let some sun shine in.' - World of Fine Wine

From the wildly creative team behind Philadelphia's Art in the Age comes The Cocktail Workshop, a deep-dive into 20 classic drinks that make up the foundation of cocktail creation, and the delicious variations that will make them all your own. Learn to craft a perfect, classic drink, or workshop that creation into a unique, flavor-forward spin with The Cocktail Workshop, an indispensable guide to foundational cocktails and the tools to elevate them into master-level creations. In this richly illustrated book, the team behind Philadelphia's beloved Art in the Age guides aspiring mixologists through the fundamentals of 20 essential cocktails. Then, each foundational drink is spun off into creative and customizable riffs on flavors, techniques, and ingredients, called Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master versions. Each classic drink is concluded by a Workshop: how to take your at-home bar efforts to the next level with aging, infusing, garnishing, and more. Drawing on the building blocks of iconic cocktails like the daiquiri and the old-fashioned, readers will grow their knowledge base as they move through each drink, taking away real skills for their home bar -- like the proper way to dry-shake an egg white cocktail or carve a manicured lime twist -- and an understanding of the fundamentals of cocktailing: how drinks are created, related, and integrated.

Few pleasures are more gratifying than pouring a glass of fine wine, admiring its clarity and color, savoring its rich bouquet, raising it to your lips, and knowing that you made it yourself. With this complete guide to home winemaking, such pleasures can be yours with little fuss and lots of fun. The Home Winemaker's Companion will guide you as you progress from making your very first batch of kit wine to mastering advanced techniques for making wine from fresh grapes. Included are Gene Spaziani's tried-and-true recipes for 115 delectable wines -- even port and champagne!

Making consistently great wine at home is easy; the hardest part is being patient while your wine ages!

The beer-lovers' bible is fully revised and updated each year to feature recommended pubs across the United Kingdom that serve the best real ale. The GBG is completely independent, with listings based entirely on evaluation by CAMRA members. The unique breweries section lists every brewery - micro, regional and national - that produces real ale in the UK, and their beers. Tasting notes for the beers, compiled by CAMRA-trained tasting teams, are also included. This is the complete book for beer lovers and for anyone wanting to experience the UK's finest pubs.

Learn to master the proportions of a classic Martini or effortlessly put the finishing touches on a Moscow Mule with this essential guide to making classic cocktails. With the guidance of master mixologist Nick Mautone, anyone can learn to create these classic cocktails at home. With recipes taken from Raising the Bar (Artisan, 2004), this jam-packed cocktail handbook will teach readers liquor fundamentals, basic mixing techniques, how to prep certain drinks ahead of time, and what drinkware to use for each cocktail. Within the pages are brunch staples like the Mimosa and Bloody Mary, but also cult favourites, including the Cosmopolitan and Margarita, and spirit-forward cocktails that never go out of style, like the Old Fashioned and Sazerac. With all these favourite recipes at their fingertips, home bartenders can rely on Classic Cocktails for foolproof, easy-to-make cocktails anytime.

This is the ultimate guide to blending 50 delectable whisky cocktails, including traditional drinks such as the Perfect Manhattan, Jack Frost and Mint Julep, as well as more unusual blends such as the Buckaroo, Coffee Eggnog and Jamaica Shake. It includes a history of whisky, its varieties and brands, from world-famous names such as Glenlivet and Jack Daniel's to less well-known types such as Suntory from Japan. It features clear instructions, photographs of the finished drinks, and useful hints and tips throughout. It includes handy advice about essential cocktail-making equipment and how to choose the right glasses, with a section on "tricks of the trade", giving expert suggestions for preparing and presenting drinks using professional-looking garnishes. Whisky - meaning "water of life" - was first produced in the 15th century. Originally from Scotland and Ireland, it is now produced in many countries, including the United States, Canada and Japan. Relating the story of whisky and the differences between the main varieties, such as Scotch, bourbon and Tennessee whiskey, this book gives you the knowhow needed to make whisky cocktails. Covering essential equipment, including the cocktail shaker and 7 varieties of glasses, you'll become an expert in no time. You can learn about muddling, frosting glasses and making syrups to create special mixes. The book will help you to master the classic recipes and discover more unusual cocktails. The range of drinks uses a wide array of ingredients, so you'll always have something new and interesting to try. With easy-to-understand instructions, over 100 mouthwatering photographs and useful hints and tips throughout, this handbook is accessible to even the most inexperienced home bartender, while also providing something extra for the whisky connoisseur.

Is it better for a martini to be shaken, not stirred? Does it matter which order you add the ingredients of a Long Island Iced Tea? How many ice cubes can you add to a margarita without compromising the flavour? The perfect home begins with a blueprint and a dream, and your perfect cocktail should start the same way! The Architecture of the Cocktail will reveal the answers to all your cocktail queries and more. Focusing on the precise measurements to make the perfect drink as well as the recommended garnish and embellishments, you'll no longer have to guess what a cocktail should taste like. Laying out the exact measurements from the bottom of your glass to the top, you'll discover the order in which you should layer your liquor, the precise measurements needed, and even recommended brands. Not sure which stemware is appropriate? Consult the mini guide on identifying the correct stemware in the back of the book. Featuring 75 different cocktails and recipes (including specifications, notes, and embellishments), this is the perfect gift for the cocktail lover in your life. Don't waste another minute on watered-down cocktails - become a cocktail master with this beautifully illustrated guide.

This 43rd edition of the authoritative South African wine guide features Five Star wines out of over 8,000 wines reviewed. Platter's features descriptions of over 900 producers across the vibrant wine regions of South Africa and also offers the 100-point equivalents for the familiar star ratings, as well as useful information for learning about and travelling in these beautiful wine lands.

Following the success of Wine Trails, we now bring you 40 perfect weekends in North American wine country, introducing vineyards in regions including Sonoma, Walla Walla, Finger Lakes, Texas Hill Country and Okanagan, as well as celebrating secret gems off the beaten path. Wine Trails - United States and Canada is perfect for travel enthusiasts with a passion for wine. It includes detailed itineraries recommending the most interesting wineries and the best places to stay and where to eat in 40 wine regions near major cities. Winemakers offer personal insights into what wines to taste and why they're special, and help you understand a place, its people and their traditions through the wine that's made there. Entries are accompanied by gorgeous photos, maps and in-the-know authors. About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world's number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You'll also find our content online, on mobile, video and in 14 languages, 12 international magazines, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more.

Punch is the original party drink. Versatile, easy, and inexpensive, it is the perfect addition to any occasion, whether a large wedding party, baby shower, or just a fun backyard barbecue with friends and family. Potent Punches gathers the best unique recipes that will please your whole party in just one bowl. The guide shows the beginning bartender how to throw an awesome party on a budget, with simple and easy-to-follow recipes that will leave guests wondering when you had time for a bartending class. Recipes feature the familiar Bloody Mary Frappe, Whiskey Sour, Sangria, and Sweet 'n' Sour Fizz in crowd-pleasing portions, along with vintage cocktails like the San Francisco Cocktail, Mexican Patriot Cocktail, Ooo-La-La Champagne, and Frosted Black Russians. In the foreword, cocktail expert Albert W. A. Schmid explains the resurgence of punch as the modern go-to party drink and provides tips to help you be the life of the party and the ultimate punch host. Potent Punches has something for everyone, from delicious, nonalcoholic options for the kids to potent vintage punch and cocktail recipes that guarantee a fun retro vibe for your next party.

Originally served at the coronations of French kings, Champagne is now popular around the world and sales increase year on year as people discover this delicious, delightful, de-lovely drink. Although Champagne only comes from a small area, there are many producers, ranging from the globally famous houses such as Dom Perignon, Moet & Chandon and Taittinger to the 19,000 vignerons who produce on a much smaller (but no less delicious) scale. Champagne has its own vocabulary, etiquette and special place in popular and culinary culture and The Little Book of Champagne traces the history of the drink from its early years to the present day and examines what makes Champagne so special. We delve into the intricacies of chilling (very cold), pouring (one inch, let the bubbles settle, then two-thirds) and drinking (slowly). There are also fun facts, quotes and sayings relating to Champagne's unique position in popular culture. So pop that cork, fill your glass and slowly sip your way slowly through the pages of this joyful celebration. SAMPLE QUOTE: 'Why do I drink Champagne for breakfast? Doesn't everyone?' - Noel Coward SAMPLE FACT: The oldest Champagne producer still in existence is Ruinart. They started production in 1729.