Selected as a Top Ten Book of the Year by Dwight Garner, "New York Times"
A "stylish and engaging...fearlessly honest account" ("Financial Times") of man's love of drink, and an insightful meditation on the meaning of alcohol consumption across cultures worldwide
Drinking alcohol: a beloved tradition, a dangerous addiction, even "a sickness of the soul" (as once described by a group of young Muslim men in Bali). In his wide-ranging travels, Lawrence Osborne--a veritable connoisseur himself--has witnessed opposing views of alcohol across cultures worldwide, compelling him to wonder: is drinking alcohol a sign of civilization and sanity, or the very reverse? Where do societies and their treatment of alcohol fall on the spectrum between indulgence and restraint?
These questions launch the author on an audacious journey, from the Middle East, where drinking is prohibited, to the West, where it is an important--yet perhaps very often a ruinous--part of everyday life. Beginning in the bar of a luxury hotel in Milan, Osborne then ventures to the Hezbollah-threatened vineyards of Lebanon; a landmark pub in London; the dangerous drinking dens on the Malaysian border; the only brewery in the alcohol-hostile country of Pakistan; and Oman, where he faces the absurd challenge of finding a bottle of champagne on New Year's Eve. Amid his travels, Osborne unravels the stories of alcoholism in his own family, and reflects on ramifications of alcohol consumption in his own life.
An immersing, controversial, and often irreverent travel narrative, " The Wet and the Dry" offers provocative, sometimes unsettling insights into the deeply embedded conflicts between East and West, and the surprising influence of drinking on the contemporary world today.

"From the Hardcover edition."

This concise book written by a 20 year Napa Valley wine industry veteran gives wine enthusiasts an inside look into the industry that creates the product they enjoy. It gives them this inside perspective from the outside of the package, the wine's label. All required and non-required items that appear on US wine labels are explained to further the casual to serious wine drinkers enjoyment and understanding.

One of the most complete histories of wine in France was written in the eighteenth century, a long chapter within Le Grand d'Aussy's masterwork on French food and wine (hopefully but misleadingly titled "History of the private life of the French from the origin of the nation until our days"). Le Grand starts with the Gauls, Greeks and Romans and the introduction of wine into France before discussing its development over the centuries and the appearance of the retail trade - merchants, taverns, inns - where wine could first be bought "by the pot." Starting with the first earthen vessels and wineskins used to transport wine, he traces the appearance of that useful microtechnology, the bottle. Drawing (as he does throughout) on a wealth of earlier authors, Le Grand lists the various wines that had been most popular over the centuries and then gives a brief look at some of the most commonly used grapes. He touches on wine from unexpected places such as Brittany, Normandy and... Paris, which for centuries was known for its wine before detouring for some pages into a squabble between Burgundy and Champagne. The French also drank foreign wines, including, once, those of Gaza and Cyprus, and he casts a glance at those before describing the ways in which wine could be used as a gift or payment and the celebrations associated with it. He ends with a look at "artificial wines," the highly flavored ancestors of todays cocktails and with the misnamed "fruit wines." Though frequently cited in culinary texts, Le Grand's masterwork is rarely translated at length and this new modern translation is a rare opportunity to experience the scholarship and lively tone of this classic work directly.

Historians will enjoy this insight into the history of alcohol written by an expert in the field. This book contains classic material dating back to the 1900s and before. The content has been carefully selected for its interest and relevance to a modern audience.

Today fortified wines are enjoying a renaissance, re-discovered by discerning imbibers and modern mixologists all over the world. Once a popular tipple to savour before or after dinner, fortified wines - Sherry, Port, Madeira and the like - had fallen out of favour in recent times. But now, in pubs and wine bars, high-end restaurants and homes, these wines are finding their way into innovative cocktails, and are being appreciated anew for their fine qualities and strong, complex tastes. This is the ultimate guide to these freshly rediscovered beverages that are sweeping the globe. In lively style, Becky Sue Epstein surveys the latest innovations and trends, along with their colourful history - the merchants, warriors and kings that helped create them. Featuring fine images, along with anecdotes, facts, history and recipes, this is a superb tour of the long history of fortified wines, and their global resurgence today.

"Secrets of the Wine Whisperer" is an informative, enjoyable and Very Funny chronicle of an innocent couple's descent into wine appreciation. From "how to select a wine glass" to "is a cork really needed" to "how the wine ratings work," the book is filled with vitally useful (and often hilarious) information for both the wine newcomer and experienced enthusiast. The "Wine Whisperer" is not in the wine business and does not make a living from the wine trade. His "ordinary person's" voice brings a sense of discovery that will touch and amuse both the wine beginner and confirmed collector.

This detailed book will take you through every aspect of making whiskey. This historic book is the ultimate guide to Obtain a Better, Purer, Cheaper and Greater Quantity of Spirit, From a Given Quantity of Grain.

gaz regan's Annual Manual for Bartenders, 2012 is the go-to book for professional bartenders worldwide. The Joy of Mixology, regan's groundbreaking 2003 work, has become required reading for staff members at many of today's top cocktail lounges, and this new book is, in many ways, a sequel to that best-selling title. And the success of gaz regan's Annual Manual for Bartenders, 2011 proves that point, reaching the Top 50 Books in the Spirits & Cocktails category on Amazon. gaz regan's Annual Manual for Bartenders, 2012 is directed specifically at working bartenders, not consumers, and this not only makes it stand apart from every other book in this genre, it also adds appeal directly to the men and women who actually hold forth from behind the mahogany. The Annual Manual is a book that bartenders can call their own. What's inside? The Mindful Bartender chapter in last year's Annual Manual caused a ripple that was felt throughout the global bartending community, and Regan followed it up with Mindful Bartender presentations in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Beirut, and Dubai. This year's edition highlights some of the bartenders who employ mindfulness at work, and have had some amazing results, along with a few more wisdom from gaz himself. The chapter titled Bartender Quotes of the Year highlights what thoughtful, caring, and sharing bartenders have said in print over the past 12 months that are sure to inspire the best in everyone who stands behind the stick. A new section titled Bartenders' Bartenders of the Year features this year's "best of the best" dedicated professionals as recommended by their peers and colleagues. Out of the 500+ suggestions received by gaz, the nine featured bartenders proved they truly are top shelf. Recipients of the 2011 "Fabulous Bartender of the Year" gazzer Awards held during the Manhattan Cocktail Classic-including Andy Wells, Anthony DeSerio, Chad Doll, Duggan McDonnell, Jackson Cannon, Jason Littrell, Jessica Gonzalez, Lynnette Marrero, Lynn House, Neyah White, Salvatore Calabrese, and Stan Vadrna-are now joined by an international bevy of 19 new recipients who now possess a coveted gazzer bobblehead of their own. This year gaz also presents at some of the best Bar Bloggers of the year and highlights some fabulous bar geekery before he signs off for the year. Add to this the second part of his serialized autobiography, you have a veritable compendium of a book, put together with love and kisses by a bartender, for bartenders. For bartenders everywhere, no library is complete without this book, a collector's reference book that will get frequent use for years to come.

The Annual Manual for Bartenders, 2013, is the third book in this series, and this edition focuses primarily on women in the bar industry, and how they have contributed to the craft of the bartender. Find here, also, tributes to various barbacks, the unsung heroes of mixology, and advice from seasoned bartenders on how to improve your bar skills. "Never stop learning," says gaz, "it helps you keep your job, and it keeps you humble and young, all at the same time. What could be better than that?"

Master of Wine and Chef Tim Hanni MW was hailed as the Wine Antisnob by the Wall Street Journal for his work in understanding consumer wine preferences and revolutionary concepts for wine and food pairing. This introductory volume for The New Wine Fundamentals wine education program is based on two decades of research by the author and many research colleagues.

"Why You Like the Wines You Like; changing the way the world thinks about wine" introduces the physiological and psychological factors that shape personal wine preferences. It offers empowerment to wine drinkers at all levels and is a truly game-changing approach to the subject of the enjoyment of wine and wine with food.

Why You Like the Wine You Like also looks at the countless myths and lore associated with wine and provides insights and an information for anyone interested in wine history.

Hanni's wine and food principles were adopted last year and taught as part of the Advanced Diploma curriculum for the Wine & Spirits Educational Trust. ""Wine and food pairing is has become an imaginary and metaphorical exercise with little basis in reality," Hanni says. "I am on a mission to have everyone pair wines with the diner, not the dinner.""

""I have spent many hours with Tim wrestling with some of his ideas while they were still in the formative stage. It was both an exhilarating and an exhaustive experience. With a broad and deep knowledge of wine and food history as well as their complexities, he is not afraid to challenge the way things are done and suggest alternatives. He's not dogmatic in his beliefs, but he demands that conventional thinkers think again. You may not agree with all his conclusions, but I promise he will make you think."" George Taber, author of the bestseller The Judgment of Paris and A Guide to Bargain Wines and former correspondent and editor for Time magazine

Mezcal, the smokier, darker and more sensual spirit from Mexico, has arrived. It isn't tequila, althought the two are related. Rather, mezcal is an artisanal spirit derived from the agave plant. It is in ascendance, praised for its authenticity and traditional craftsmanship. Mezcal is life, which means it is an adventure. To discover mezcal is to discover your own soul. Here, this authoritative book helps you discover Mezcal - the history, the creation of the product, the ways it is consumed, enjoyed and appreciated - the complete mystique.

The home brewer will find this article about brewing waters of much interest. This book contains classic material dating back to the 1900s and before. The content has been carefully selected for its interest and relevance to a modern audience.

Want to know where exceptional wines of world-class quality are to be found in Colorado? Colorado's red gold is waiting to be mined with glass in hand and taste buds at the ready. Yes, Colorado wine has come of age. You will be introduced to prestigious "best in the world" wines, grapes of excellent quality, winemakers with impressive training and, most importantly, wines that can compete with any region in the $20 to $40 range - and win. They have It's time to experience world-class wines in world-class mountain splendor. As a bonus, learn to taste with your emotions and increase the pleasure of wine. This premier guide to Colorado wines will: - Introduce you to the red grapes and wines of Colorado - Educate you about Colorado wine, its wineries, and winemakers - Fascinate you with how wine is made in Colorado - Direct you to quality in your chosen style of wine - Let you see the wines through the winemaker's eyes - Stir pleasurable emotions and motivate you to rush to the store - Introduce you to some of the Colorado's leading chefs as they describe how to match food with Colorado wine - Provide recipes from great Colorado chefs that pair well with Colorado wines for your next special occasion In this "Top of the World" wine experience, knowledgable tasters offer you their perspectives on the wines they tasted, and the stories behind the wines will energize your conversations.

This bar book contains 386 delicious cocktails, and is a must have for the professional or aspiring bartender. Included are classic favourites like the Martini, Manhattan, and Side Car. Get in touch with your feminine side with a Bachelor's Bait, Pink Whiskers, and American Beauty, or put some hair on your chest with a Whiskey Sour, Thunder Clap, and Flying Scotchman. If those drinks aren't enough to wet your whistle then the Bloodhound, Ping Pong, and Green Dragon are sure to knock you off your feet. If nothing else, this book would be handy to protect you from a Depth Bomb, Black Eye, or a Catastrophe.

Wine Tasting Words
Quick Guide
Learn quickly what 'foxy, buttery, elegant, velvety, cat pee, baked...' and more means in the world of wine lovers.
This beautiful designed book is a great gift for the casual wine lover.
'Wine Tasting Words' is perfect for a book and wine pairing.
Enjoy your next wine tasting.

Cider is the new thing in today's drinking world, even though it's been around for centuries. In spite of its long and colorful history, cider has remained relatively underappreciated by the American public. The purchase in 2012 of a Vermont-based cidermaker for over $300 million signaled that this is all likely to change very soon. Richly informative and entertaining, Cider, Hard and Sweet is your go-to source for everything related to apples, cider, and ciderm aking. It includes great information on apple varieties, cidermaking basics, barrel fermentation, and recipes for cooking with cider-with instructions for making boiled cider and cider jelly, and recipes for dishes with cider braises and marinades. It also teaches readers how to recognize a good cider and takes you from buying store-bought to making the genuine article at home.

Nachdruck des beruhmten Originals von 1862, nach dem Generationen von Barkeepern ihr Handwerk erlernten.