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Books > Health, Home & Family > Cookery / food & drink etc > Beverages > Alcoholic beverages > Spirits & cocktails
This witty, erudite and often lyrical toast to uisgebeatha, the
Celts' 'water of life', takes us back into the mists of time when
some happy man chanced upon the technique of producing a
distillation from barley that rivalled the mead of the gods. But it
is also a lament for the days when every self-respecting Highlander
had his own pot still as of right. Good malt whisky, brewed and
distilled in the time-honoured way, excites the same appreciation
as fine wine, and there could be no more discerning guide than Neil
M. Gunn, a native of Caithness and one of Scotland's leading
twentieth-century novelists. Whisky and Scotland describes in
loving detail the traditional techniques, still used today, whereby
barley grains become an amber spirit unequalled in the world. For a
purist, Scotland's own barley gives the finest results,
'communicating a soft maturing excellence', and no water can
compare with that which has flowed off the peat, imparting a subtle
flavour that survives years in the cask. True connoisseurs can
identify the products of individual distilleries, for each derives
its own distinctive character from the surrounding soil and water.
A classic since its original publication, Whisky and Scotland reads
as freshly and relevantly as it did then. Good single whiskies can
still be found by the searcher, and the fire of Scottish national
pride burns as brightly as ever. This new edition, with decorative
drawings by Fred Van Deelen based on archive photographs, will
enlighten and entertain all who share the author's delight in a
brew that recalls 'the world of hills and glens, of raging
elements, of shelter, of divine ease.'
Dressed to Swill contains sixty original cocktail recipes inspired
by style icons from the 20th century to today, including fashion
designers, models, photographers, stylists, influencers, and more.
Karl Lagerfeld's tipple is made for royalty: it's similar to a Kir
Royale, but brings in the velvety flavors of raspberry and vanilla.
The Kim Kardashian is sensuous, flavorful, and as unsubtly
delicious as its subject. Lizzo's cocktail is a strawberry-rhubarb
sparkler certain to fill you with joy. From Alexa Chung and Andre
Leon Talley to Coco Chanel and RuPaul, there's a flavor to fit
every mood, be it avant-garde, glamourous, rebellious, or
little-black-dressy. Engaging biographies explore each person's
contributions to the field of fashion, and the illustrations are
sprinkled with fun details about their lives. In addition, readers
can learn how to stock their bar with basic equipment, glassware,
foundational spirits, and easy-to-source ingredients that can turn
a basic drink into a runway-worthy libation. Perfect for birthdays,
watch parties, girls' nights in-as well as for Instagram-this book
makes finding the right cocktail as exciting and surprising as
shopping for a pair of shoes to complete your look.
The artisanal cocktail movement is, let's face it, not for
everyone. What about drinks for the rest of us? The boozers who
just want a good, stiff cocktail we can make at home after a day at
work? What if you don't own an ice-shaving kit or grow organic
rosemary in your back garden? What if you are using recycled jam
jars to mix your Vodka Tonic instead of the "mason jar shaker" you
can purchase at every hipster joint in Hoxton? Rejoice, this book
is for you.
Astrology, tarot, palmistry, and other spiritual arts are having a
moment-and that includes the spirits we enjoy during cocktail hour.
With this deeply researched collection of intoxicating treats,
readers will be able to mix a drink that reflects their interests
and satisfies their curiosity. Over the course of five chapters,
the authors map out esoteric philosophies that have fuelled the
dark arts of their times. Each recipe is presented in a double-page
spread that includes an engaging history, clear instructions, and
original photography. Curious about druids? Try the Oak and
Mistletoe, reminiscent of ancient European forests. Into voodoo?
Enjoy a citrusy rum cocktail that's finished with Peychaud's
bitters from an infamous New Orleans apothecary. If vodka's your
jam try the Devil's Daughter, which pays tribute to England's most
famous prophetess, Mother Shipton. More than just a collection of
recipes, this dive into the occult tells you everything you need to
stock your bar and kitchen with, while offering compelling
background information on natural ingredients, botany, herbs, and
spices-all points of interests that connect the cocktail enthusiast
and the practitioner of magic. Whether you're serious about
cocktails or the occult-or just getting acquainted with either
one-this ingenious blend of mixology and magic will add a drop of
mystery to every drink you make.
In the winter of 1920, the 25 year-old Masataka Taketsuru, with his
new wife Rita in tow, arrived in Campbeltown, a small town on the
west coast of Scotland. With the help of Professor Wilson of the
Royal Technical College in Glasgow, the young Japanese had been
fortunate enough to secure an invitation to undergo practical
training in pot still whisky manufacture at the Hazelburn
Distillery, then the largest of the Campbeltown distilleries. Under
the guidance of chief technician Peter Margach Innes, Taketsuru was
able to delve into all aspects of whisky manufacture. Four months
later, he had completed this report. Taketsuru would go on to
establish his own company - Nikka Whisky. Today Nikka's whiskies
are known the world over, and frequently win awards.
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