'He was a wise man who invented beer.' Anonymous Ale, lager, stout, bitter... There are so many different types of beer that you'd need a lifetime to try them all. Whatever your favourite hop-based delight, draft or bottled, indulge your inner brewmaster and raise a glass to the perfection of the pint with this collection of quips from the world's wisest and wittiest drinkers.

It's a system, a tool kit, a recipe book. Beginning with one irresistible idea--a complete home bar of just 12 key bottles--here's how to make more than 200 classic and unique mixed drinks, including sours, slings, toddies, and highballs, plus the perfect Martini, the perfect Manhattan, and the perfect Mint Julep. It's a surprising guide--tequila didn't make the cut, and neither did bourbon, but genever did. And it's a literate guide--describing with great liveliness everything from the importance of vermouth and bitters (the "salt and pepper" of mixology) to the story of a punch bowl so big it was stirred by a boy in a rowboat.

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.

The cocktail hour has long been a cherished tradition of the south, a relaxing way to wind down after a stressful day and enjoy the conversation of friends and family before preparing heading to dinner. For many this tradition is still embraced and, in fact, celebrated, with an increasing variety of cocktails and perhaps an appetizer or two. In "Southern Cocktails", you'll discover the favorites found south of the Mason-Dixon line. Start with the Classic Mint Julep and move on to the New Orleans favorite, the Hurricane. If you want to get a little more festive you can shake up some Blueberry Martinis, Peach Mojito, or the ultimate - the Scarlett O'Hara, an edgy little cocktail with a hit of Southern Comfort. There are plenty of crowd-pleasing punches for when you invite everyone over and a few more-refined concoctions such as Champagne Punch or the Blackberry Cordial. If you'd prefer not to drink on an empty stomach, a variety of nibbles including Beer-Battered String Beans with Remoulade, Devilish Eggs, or Crab Louis Cocktail should hold you over until your late night dinner.

Dead Rabbit Grocery & Grog in Lower Manhattan has dominated the bar industry, receiving award after award including Best American Cocktail Bar, World's Best Cocktail Menu, and World's Best Drink Selection. Now, the critically acclaimed bar has its first cocktail book, The Dead Rabbit Drinks Manual, which, along with its inventive recipes, also details founder Sean Muldoon and bar manager Jack McGarry's inspiring rags-to-riches story that began in Ireland and has brought them to the top of the cocktail world. Like the bar's decor, Dead Rabbit's award-winning drinks are a nod to the "Gangs of New York" era. They range from fizzes to cobblers to toddies, each with its own historical inspiration. There are also recipes for communal punches as well as an entire chapter on absinthe. Along with the recipes and their photos, this stylish and handsome book includes photographs from the bar itself so readers are able to take a peek into the classic world of Dead Rabbit. Sean Muldoon and Jack McGarry were formerly bar managers at The Merchant Hotel in Belfast.

Oz uses his trademark wit and irreverent style to teach you the basics of wine appreciation and show you how to get more out of a bottle of wine, and find out what is really inside. Have you ever gone into your local wine shop or looked at the wine list in your local bar and thought with a sense of panic `Help, what do I choose?'... What sort of wine do I fancy today? A refreshing white? A summery red to take on a picnic or a spicy wine to go with a winter's stew?' Well, Oz is here to help. Split into sections covering basics (wine at a glance, good grape guide, wine styles, from grape to glass and quick guide to countries); practical stuff (what the label tells you, the canny wine buyer, essential kit, serving and keeping wine); and becoming a wine geek (tasting wine, starting your own collection, finding out more and quick guide to names in wine). Oz will be your guide through the world of fascinating flavours and help you find the sort of wine you enjoy drinking. Dip into this book and you will find a quick, accessible guide to wine styles: what is warm and spicy or chewy and blackcurranty? He recommends wines to try; and explains what the label tells you about the taste and quality of the wine and whether it is any good or not. Soon you will be confident enough to choose between flavoursome reds such as Shiraz or Pinot Noir, and refreshing whites from Alberino to Sauvignon Blanc. The book is divided into short, easy to read topics, with recommended wines to try covering all styles and flavours. Now is the moment to grab that glass, learn about what is inside that bottle and taste while you read...

For fans of Italian wine, few names command the level of respect accorded to Brunello di Montalcino. Expert wine writer Kerin O'Keefe has a deep personal knowledge of Tuscany and its extraordinary wine, and her account is both thoroughly researched and readable. Organized as a guided tour through Montalcino's geography, this essential reference also makes sense of Brunello's complicated history, from its rapid rise to the negative and positive effects of the 2008 grape-blending scandal dubbed "Brunellogate". O'Keefe also provides in-depth profiles of nearly sixty leading producers of Brunello.

Do you know your Moscow Mule from your White Russian? Your Stoli from your Belvedere? Micron filtering from charcoal filtering? No matter how you take your vodka, it is time to embrace your inner vodka snob. How to Be a Vodka Snob is the perfect read for drinking novices as well as connoisseurs, beginning with vodka's humble history as a medicinal liquor and accompanying it on its rise to stardom with high-end vodka appreciators and mixologists. Pairing fascinating stories, tidbits, and recipes with a step-by-step guide to becoming a vodka snob, Brittany Jacques offers a beginner's guide to proper glassware, equipment needed for the home bar, and the all-important vodka lingo. Ever wanted to order a filthy martini, stirred, extra wet? How to Be a Vodka Snob is the perfect book for you. How to be a Vodka Snob features more than 50 recipes with everything from James Bond's favorite Martini to Dwight's Beets Over Rocks from The Office, as well as accompanying nibbles and side dishes. With Brittany Jacques as your guide, your journey to becoming a vodka snob starts here.

It's time to welcome this tasty mid-twentieth-century American classics' return. Banishing artificial sweetness, the authors have brought back the fresh taste of tiki drinks with traditional recipes that honour the flavours of the Caribbean, South Pacific and the Hawaiian Islands. Including recipes inspired by Asian and South American flavours, Tiki Drinks is a hybrid of the old and the new.

Cheese and wine are a classic combination but many cheeses taste even better with beer or cider. Steve Jones, proprietor of the Portland- based Cheese Bar and Chizu (cheese served sushi- style) has been successfully matching cheeses with alcoholic beverages for more than two decades. Here he shares his knowledge by introducing 75 different cheeses and pairing each with the beverage that brings out the best in both. Jones provides a treasure trove of delectable, often surprising pairings, as well as simple steps for successful experimentation. This guide will function as a crash course for beginners on buying, storing, and serving cheese and alcohol, while offering more seasoned aficionados page after page of cheese-and-beverage combinations to replicate at home. With gorgeous photographs, this book captures the allure, approachability, and, most importantly, the sheer joy of pairing cheese with beer, wine or cider.

Originally published by Constable in 1930, the Savoy Cocktail Book features 750 of the Savoy's most popular recipes. It is a fascinating record of the cocktails that set London alight at the time - and which are just as popular today. Taking you from Slings to Smashes, Fizzes to Flips, and featuring art deco illustrations, this book is the perfect gift for any budding mixologist or fan of 1930s-style decadence and sophistication. Updated with a new introduction and recipes from The Savoy.

'Kay can cook - but she can shake a damn fine cocktail too.' - Heston Blumenthal Kay Plunkett-Hogge demonstrates that entertaining need not be stressful with more than 90 deliciously simple recipes for cocktails and finger food that can easily be scaled up and made in advance. Kay draws on her own party-planning experience to help you be the perfect host, with handy tips on everything from guest list to painless clean-up. Features favourite recipes from three of Kay's previous books, including the award-winning Make Mine A Martini, as well as new creations such as Mini Cornbreads with Bacon, Chilli and Cheese, Smoked Mackerel Pate and Scandinavian Gloegg.

With a small, 0.5-liter distiller, you can easily create fine brandies, whiskies, and even essential oils in your own kitchen. In this detailed how-to book, learn the tools, techniques, and safe procedures to distill raw natural materials for a variety of applications. Also included is a useful guide that explains what plants to use for different purposes; a look at the various types of stills; and a detailed, step-by-step treatment of mashing, fermenting, distilling, and refining spirits. Complete with a guide to distilling essential oils and their benefits and tips and tricks for troubleshooting and avoiding common pitfalls, this is the ideal companion for the home distiller.

Can't remember what wine your mum loves? Give her this book and she can try them all . . . The perfect gift for wine lovers and anyone looking to improve their understanding of the world of wine. A Fortnum & Mason Drink Book of the Year Red or white? Cabernet or Merlot? Medium or full-bodied? Drinking great wine isn't hard, but finding a great wine is much easier when you understand the fundamentals. Using visual infographics, charts and maps, the expert founders of Wine Folly have created the ultimate wine resource packed with countless facts, information and guidance. From tips on which glasses to use, and easy-to-grasp flavour wheels for each wine type, to simple tasting and food-pairing notes, Wine Folly is a fascinating modern and colourful guide. This accessible book will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to enjoy great wines in a whole new way.

Taste your way to whisky wisdom. The best way to find out about whisky is by drinking it. Perfect for the whisky curious, this truly hands-on handbook helps you to discover your own personal whisky style, opening up a world of new whiskies to enjoy. Tailored tasting sessions steer you through the full spectrum of whisky's aromas and flavours - from the smoky tang of Islay peat to the sandalwood scents of Japanese oak. Take a tasting tour and compare whiskies from the world's finest makers, including iconic Scottish distilleries and trailblazing craft producers. Get the very best from your whisky, with insider tips on smart buying, making perfect food matches and mixing killer cocktails. With 20 step-by-step tastings, and brimming with clear infographics and jargon-busting advice - as a gorgeous gift for any fan of the dram, this book hits the spot.

An inside look at how craft beer makers and IPA devotees come together to brew, taste, and enjoy fine ale while also building a sense of community in Las Vegas Equally reviled and revered as Sin City, Las Vegas is both exceptional and emblematic of contemporary American cultural practices and tastes. Michael Ian Borer takes us inside the burgeoning Las Vegas craft beer scene to witness how its adherents use beer to create and foster not just a local culture but a locals' culture. Through compelling, detailed first-hand accounts and interviews, Vegas Brews provides an unprecedented look into the ways that brewers, distributors, bartenders, and drinkers fight against the perceived and preconceived norm about what "happens in Vegas" and lay claim to a part of their city that is too often overshadowed by the bright lights of tourist sites. Borer shows how our interactions with the things we care about-and the ways that we care about how they're made, treated, and consumed-can lead to new senses of belonging and connections with and to others and the places where we live. In a world where people and things move around at an extraordinary pace, the folks Borer spent time talking (and drinking) with remind us to slow down and learn how to taste the "good life," or at least a semblance of it, even in a city where style is often valued over substance.

What did Charles Dickens savour in punch, Thomas Jefferson eat in omelettes, Queen Victoria sip in navy grog, and the Kamehameha Kings of Hawaii drink straight? What helped spark the American Revolution, was used as currency in Australia, was targeted by the Temperance Movement, and is still a sacramental offering among voodoo worshippers? The answer is rum, whose colourful, secret history is described in Rum: A Global History. This book chronicles the evolution of rum, from a raw spirit concocted for slaves five hundred years ago, to a beverage savoured by connoisseurs. It charts the history of the drink, showing how this once-humble spirit has become a worldwide phenomenon over the last five hundred years. Rum: A Global History shows how rum has left its mark on religious rituals, popular songs and other cultural landmarks, describing a far more varied and interesting history of the drink than is commonly known. Also included in the book are recipes for sweet and savoury rum dishes, obscure but delicious rum drinks, and illustrations of rum memorabilia from the earliest days to the tiki craze of the 1950s. Costing less than a bottle of good rum, Rum: A Global History will provide satisfaction for far longer, with none of the hangover, guaranteed. The book will delight all who enjoy the beverage and wish to learn more of its heritage, as well as those who enjoy a fast-paced, well-written history of food.

Craft the perfect whiskey cocktail! Enjoy over 100 whiskey cocktail recipes, featuring your favorite spirit! From the Manhattan to the Mint Julep, whiskey is the foundation of some of the most iconic, old-school cocktails, and its renaissance has led to an array of innovative new creations. Whether you prefer your drinks tart and refreshing or complex and spirit-forward, this artfully curated collection features: - More than 100 whiskey cocktail recipes with chapters dedicated to whiskey, bourbon, rye, and whiskey liqueurs and creams - Distillery profiles on Buffalo Trace, Four Roses, Hartfield & Co., Heaven Hill, Jack Daniel's, Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Willett, and Woodford Reserve - Facts about the origins of whiskey found all throughout the book - These libations and more: Gentleman's Manhattan, Perfect Old Fashioned, Rob Roy, Southern Charm, Hot Toddy, Pomegranate Smash, Tennessee Mule, Vieux Carre, Maker's Boulevardier, Jack and Ginger, Black Manhattan, Buffalo Smash, Whiskey Sling, Sazerac, South of NY Sour, Blackberry Sage Julep Whiskey Cocktails is an essential guide for anyone looking to craft an impeccable drink. From the whiskey aficionado to the beginner, there is a whiskey drink for everyone with a wide variety of classic whiskey recipes and modern originals to choose from. This beautifully designed book is perfect for anyone who wants to mix whiskey drinks at home and is a great gift for whiskey lovers.

A collection of recipes for the world's suavest classic cocktails, inspired by the debonair persona and personal choices of Mr 007 himself. Everyone knows that James Bond prefers an alcoholic drink to a soft drink. In fact, he even goes as far as deriding tea as 'mud' and blaming it for the collapse of the British Empire. Although it's the legendary Vodka Martini that he's best known for, he also orders many classic cocktails, including an Old-Fashioned, an Americano and a Negroni, all of which appear in this book. Bond also effortlessly creates his own drink in 'Casino Royale': 'Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?' And so the Vesper was born, to the delight of bar owners across the globe. However, it's not only cocktails that he's partial to. Bond orders Scotch and soda 21 times in the books, but he's also keen on bourbon and a brandy and ginger ale. So why not raise a glass and toast the health of the world's most-loved, smooth-talking secret agent with one of his favourite drinks.

Nearly one hundred easy-to-follow recipes for the home bartender create memorable drinks from everyday ingredients. Milam and Slater share tips on essential tools and glassware and how to stock the home bar, as well as mixing and garnishing techniques.