Few wine books can be called classic, but the first edition of The World Atlas of Wine made publishing history when it appeared in 1971. It is recognized by critics as the essential and most authoritative wine reference work available. This eighth edition will bring readers, both old and new, up to date with the world of wine. To reflect all the changes in the global wine scene over the past six years, the Atlas has grown in size to 416 pages and 22 new maps have been added to the wealth of superb cartography in the book. The text has been given a complete overhaul to address the topics of most vital interest to today's wine-growers and drinkers. With beautiful photography throughout, Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson, the world's most respected wine-writing duo, have once again joined forces to create a classic that no wine lover can afford to be without. "The World Atlas of Wine is the single most important reference book on the shelf of any wine student." - Eric Asimov, New York Times "The most useful single volume on wine ever published... If I owned only one wine book, it would be this one." - Andrew Jefford, Decanter "Like a good bottle of wine, you'll find yourself going back to it again and again... Perfect for anyone who has a thirst for greater wine knowledge." - Edward Deitch, NBC/today.com "The World Atlas of Wine belongs on your shelf... The essential rootstock of any true wine lover's library. A multi-layered snapshot of wine and how it has evolved." - Dave McIntyre, Washington Post

With over 13yrs experience David Vancil shares all of the techniques that he has learned while perfecting his bartending skills in Who's Your Bartender: The Secret Techniques and Basics of Bartending. From Cultivating regular customers to making newcomers feel at home, these techniques offer a bird's eye view of how to become a successful bartender. Vancil Shares his vast knowledge of the ways of a successful bartender as well as the recipes for the wide variety of drinks that a bartender must know and be able to make quickly and efficiently. From classic drinks like martinis and boiler makers to delicious non-alcoholic drinks, this guide presents recipes for hundreds of real, essential, drinks that can be ordered anywhere. Vancil also provides need to know memorization techniques that will help any bartedner remember hundreds of drinks, and recipes in an easy-to-read format. Bartending offers the opportunity to work anywhere in the world. This handy reference guide can help you become a successful bartender. "David Vancil is amongst one of the most enthusiastic, passionate and skilled bartenders I have had the pleasure to work with since my move to Los Angeles from Italy in 2006. His attention to detail and knowledge of both spirits, wine & mixology, make his book a must read for anyone interested in the beverage industry." Diego Meraviglia 4th level certified Sommelier AIS Vice-President, Fourcade & Hecht Wine Selections David Vancil is not just a bartender but an Alchemist who puts the true meaning of "Spirits" in every drink -J.D. Amoro Estrill -Artist "I've never experienced bar service at the level of David Vancil's-he is THE BEST. There is a reason he is called The Sensei When he is behind the bar, it"s like a magician with his cape on. You don't even see his hands moving then abracadabra you've got a drink in your hand. And it's either your favorite drink, or your new favorite drink That's how he works. And he brings this level of service and integrity each and every night. I would take anything David says straight to the bank when it comes to the history of bar service, or the modernization of it. "-Benjamin Yiapan-Fitness Consultant

Did you know that coffee was recommended as protection against the bubonic plague in the seventeenth century? Or that tea was believed to make men 'unfit to do their business' and blamed for women becoming unattractive? On the other hand, a cup of chocolate was supposed to have exactly the opposite effect on the drinker's sex life and physical appearance. These three beverages arrived in England in the 1650s from faraway, exotic places: tea from China, coffee from the Middle East and chocolate from Mesoamerica. Physicians, diarists and politicians were quick to comment on their supposed benefits and alleged harmfulness, using newspapers, pamphlets and handbills both to promote and denounce their sudden popularity. Others seized the opportunity to serve the growing appetite for these newly discovered drinks by setting up coffee houses or encouraging one-upmanship in increasingly elaborate tea-drinking rituals. How did the rowdy and often comical initial reception of these drinks form the roots of today's enduring caffeine culture? From the tale of the goatherd whose animals became frisky on coffee berries to a duchess with a goblet of poisoned chocolate, this book, illustrated with eighteenth-century satirical cartoons and early advertisements, tells the extraordinary story of our favourite hot drinks.

Few writers have earned Dorothy Parker's reputation for drinking as much or as hard, and fewer still have achieved her notorious skill at wisecracking wit. Kevin C. Fitzpatrick, president of the Dorothy Parker Society, gives us an intoxicating new look at the doyenne of the ripping riposte through the lens she most preferred: the bottom of a glass. A bar book for Parker enthusiasts and literary tipplers alike, "Under the Table" offers a unique take on Parker, the infamous Algonquin Round Table, and the Jazz Age by profiling and celebrating the drinks that she, her bitter friends, and sweetest enemies enjoyed and discussed. Each entry of this delicious compendium offers a fascinating and lively background of a period cocktail, its ingredients, and the characters associated with it. The book also features a special selection of twenty-first century speakeasy-style recipes from top mixologists from across the country. A complete recipe with detailed instructions forms the centerpiece of each entry, and topping it off are illuminating excerpts from Parker's poems, stories, and other writings that will allow you to enjoy her world from the speakeasies of New York City to the watering holes of Hollywood.

On May 4, 1964, Congress designated bourbon as a distinctive product of the United States, and it remains the only spirit produced in this country to enjoy such protection. Its history stretches back almost to the founding of the nation and includes many colorful characters, both well known and obscure, from the hatchet-wielding prohibitionist Carry Nation to George Garvin Brown, who in 1872 created Old Forester, the first bourbon to be sold only by the bottle. Although obscured by myth, the history of bourbon reflects the history of our nation. Historian Michael R. Veach reveals the true story of bourbon in Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey. Starting with the Whiskey Rebellion of the 1790s, he traces the history of this unique beverage through the Industrial Revolution, the Civil War, Prohibition, the Great Depression, and up to the present. Veach explores aspects of bourbon that have been ignored by others, including the technology behind its production, the effects of the Pure Food and Drug Act, and how Prohibition contributed to the Great Depression. The myths surrounding bourbon are legion, but Veach separates fact from legend. While the true origin of the spirit may never be known for certain, he proposes a compelling new theory. With the explosion of super-premium bourbons and craft distilleries and the establishment of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, interest in bourbon has never been higher. Veach shines a light on its pivotal place in our national heritage, presenting the most complete and wide-ranging history of bourbon available.