Time-honored cocktails like the New York Sour and the Sidecar were born during the era of Prohibition, the blessedly bygone social experiment that turned drinking into an underground adventure. In those days, hard beverage options were usually made with homemade hooch and flavorings of dubious origin and quality.
Thankfully, a cocktail renaissance has emerged in many of today's bars, where inventive drinks showcase both the artistry and craft of bartending. At their moody and atmospheric West Village bar-restaurant Employees Only, master mixologists Jason Kosmas and Dushan Zaric can regale you with colorful tales of cocktail origins--or just pour you a mean drink. In "Speakeasy," Kosmas and Zaric take their inspiration from traditional favorites, then use the finest spirits, the freshest ingredients, and a good measure of reverence for their craft to elevate the mixed drink to artisanal status.
More than 80 imaginative libations that riff on the classics are showcased in this one-of-a-kind collection. Recipes emphasize fresh fruits and herbs, homemade syrups and infusions, and a careful balancing of flavors, with a mind toward seasonality. A Ginger Smash is offered in four different versions: kumquat, pineapple, pear, or cranberry, depending on the time of year. The Millionaire becomes the Billionaire with the addition of homemade grenadine and 107-proof bourbon. And the South Side becomes the West Side by replacing the gin with sun-kissed Meyer lemon-infused vodka. With the specter of Prohibition firmly in the past, "Speakeasy" shares recipes for the choicest potent potables, reimagining the finest drinks of yesterday for today's thirsty imbibers.

Given how frequently it's consumed, whiskey is surprisingly misunderstood. People love it but are often strangers to it. The difference between scotch and bourbon, between pot and column distillation, even between brewing and distilling-it's all a little hazy, even for many brown liquor enthusiasts. David and Colin see the self-consciousness at every tour they conduct at their Brooklyn distillery: People who love bourbon enough to pay them a visit often have no idea how to talk about what they like to drink. The book is a guide to American whiskey-not simply a taxonomy of brands and types, but also an introduction to how whiskey is manufactured and produced, an investigation into its history (in cities from New York to Kentucky), a tour through contemporary whiskey culture among younger, urban drinkers and a memoir of the author's own experience as the proprietors of a small but nationally visible whiskey distillery in Brooklyn. Beginning with a section that explains how to make whiskey, the book includes a list of the supplies, the science that needs to be understood and a simple and safe step-by-step procedure, clarified with diagrams. Providing readers with everything they need to know to start making moonshine themselves, the practical instructions are coloured by anecdotes and helpful tips learned from the authors' own experience. Accented by whiskey history, lore and trivia, the second section of the book addresses how to drink whiskey, including a basic initiation to the established brands, an introduction of newcomers and the micro-distillery scene and interviews with some of the best cocktail bartenders and respected whiskey experts. A list of not-to-be-missed places that serve whiskey in New York and beyond, the ideal whiskeys to own to create the perfect bar and tasting notes will also be included. With photographs of distilleries and cocktails, playful and informative infographics (e.g. of a whiskey family tree and the most intriguing movies, books and music about whiskey) and line drawings, the book is a beautifully illustrated, comprehensive and entertaining look at America's relationship with whiskey, past and present.

Switzerland has as many drinks as it does mountains, from absinthe to Kirsch, Petite Arvine to Humagne Rouge, healthy pick-me-ups to boozy keep-me-ups. Drink like the Swiss takes you on a titillating tour of this tasty (and tipsy) aspect of Swiss culture. With nearly a hundred recipes -- from cocktails to coffee to cocoa -- and many delightful curiosities, Andie Pilot's colourful little book leaves no bean unground, and no bottle uncorked.

Entertain in style with Ladies Who Drink, a gloriously glamorous excursion into the world of cocktails. Within these pages, recipes for updated classics like the mojito, cosmopolitan, and old fashioned meet modern concoctions like the strawberry basil margarita, lime shandy, and spicy michelada. This engaging and user-friendly guide is gorgeously illustrated by Anne Keenan Higgins, who brings each cocktail and setting to life with a whimsical array of sipping ladies dressed in to-die-for original fashions. Picture it: a woman in a chartreuse dress drinking a Daiquiri while reading Hemingway's To Have and Have Not; or a woman with a Manhattan in hand wearing a cherry styled fascinator against the backdrop of the New York City skyline. Broken down by occasions like game day, book club, or barbeque, as well as moods like April in Paris, seaside sunset, or Mardi Gras, Ladies Who Drink is filled light-bite food pairing recipes and entertaining ideas perfect for just about any occasion.

Bourbon whiskey is perhaps Kentucky's most distinctive product. Despite bourbon's prominence in the social and economic life of the Bluegrass state, many myths and legends surround its origins. In Kentucky Bourbon, Henry C. Crowgey claims that distilled spirits and pioneer settlement went hand in hand; Isaac Shelby, the state's first governor, was among Kentucky's pioneer distillers. Crowgey traces the drink's history from its beginnings as a cottage industry to steam-based commercial operations in the period just before the Civil War. From "spirited" camp meetings, to bourbon's use as a medium of exchange for goods and services, to the industry's coming of age in the mid-nineteenth century, the story of Kentucky bourbon is a fascinating chapter in the state's early history.

Raise your glass to the bourbon renaissance with this must-have cocktail collection. Made in America and aged in charred new American oak barrels, bourbon is the quintessential US spirit - but the best part is mixing it up into tasty drinks. Here are the best of the best. Whisky experts Jane Danger and Alla Lapushchik offer timeless classics and forgotten gems, such as the Old Fashioned and the Boulevardier, as well as cutting-edge craft concoctions, including the Brown Derby and Paper Plane. They also serve up a short history of bourbon and tips for making delicious infusions and syrups. Sidebars chronicle bourbon's influence on American culture.

Add some sparkle to your life with this irresistible cocktail recipe book, featuring drinks made using Prosecco, Cava, Lambrusco, Champagne, and other sparkling wines. An inspiring mix of classic cocktail recipes alongside exciting variations and twists, Let's Get Fizzical offers tips, tricks, presentation ideas, and technical know-how to make your cocktails as sensational for the eye as they are for the palate. In this book you'll discover: - A Beginner's Guide to Bubbles, giving you the know-how to detect the differences between your fizzy favourites - Over 50 drink and cocktail recipes to add some sparkle to your celebration - Learn the basics with an overview of tools and equipment, infusions, and mixology methods - Classic cocktails and unique twists to mix up your menus including the Pornstar Martini, Bellinis, and Mimosas - "Lose the booze" options for your guests looking for a non-alcoholic refreshment - Clear measures with diagrammatic illustrations and photographs, - Handy tips and tricks to enjoy the best serve, from glass to garnish From essential cocktail shaking techniques to the perfect glass shape, Let's Get Fizzical gives you the drink mixing skills to impress your guests. Learn how to make your own syrups and infusions, how to pair flavours and how to present your drinks with style. Drink your way through the recipe-packed remainder of the book - mastering delicious classics, such as the Aperol Spritz and French 75, and discover how to make your drink a little bit special with creative reinventions and original cocktail recipes. If you ever feel the need for drinking day-off, many recipes feature a "lose the booze" mocktail option with all the flavour without the hangover. Whatever your bubbly drink of choice, impress your guests and make every drink a celebration. Complete the Series: Now that you've mastered your favourite fizz, why not try Let's Get Tropical, a cocktail recipe book for all things fruity. Master the classics for refreshing tipple on a hot summer's day including Tequila Sunrise, Blue Lagoon, Mai Tai, and the all-important Pina Colada.

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.

Bring the bar to you and create the best gin cocktails and the very best flavour infusions from your own home. Ginspiration is here to be your guide to one of the UK's favourite drinks. Reinvent classic cocktails, like the Martini and Gin Fizz, and try spectacular recipes from the mind of award-winning mixology maestro Klaus Rainer. Whet your appetite with tasting notes on 45 of the world's best craft gins, each one accompanied by the story behind the distilleries and distillers, and guaranteed to make you want to try them all. Perfect for gin aficionados and aspiring mixologists alike, Ginspiration is the only book you'll need to get your ima-gin-ation going and the drinks flowing!

More than 100 cocktail recipes. Navigate the bewildering world of cocktails with this elegant A to Z guide to every recipe that you need to know. Complete with the stories behind the famous drinks and know-how on key cocktail topics and techniques, The Cocktail Dictionary is the discerning drinker's guide to the art of sipping. Covering everything from the Old Fashioned, Martini, Margarita and Daiquiri to key cocktail techniques such as muddling, shaking, stirring and the perfect ice. Includes stunning illustrations throughout the book.

Drink deliciously and magickally with this exquisite compendium of potent mystical beverages, with witchy wisdom from author Shawn Engel and expertly crafted cocktails from mixologist Steven Nichols. For thousands of years, witches young and old have concocted mysterious potions to heal, to divine the future, to get in touch with the energies of the planet-and just to have fun. In this enchanting compendium of 40 drink recipes, mystical maven Shawn Engel shares her thoughts on what to imbibe for power, energy, and amusement. Written in tandem with the award-winning cocktail writer and developer Steven Nichols, this collection presents a broad range of drinks for every purpose. Whether it's a trio of beverages celebrating the energies of the maiden, mother, and crone (with notes of pomegranate, fig, and smoke respectively), or an eminently sippable mint-based money magick brew for prosperity, this book is a party with a purpose. Not only are these drinks fun and shareable, they also contain ingredients with ancient magickal significance. For example, the 'Keep it Hexy' is not only a delicious vodka-based cocktail perfect for kick-starting a memorable evening, it also contains black pepper to return a hex to sender, sage to cleanse an evil eye, and blackberries for protection. All recipes include energetic properties and plenty of information about magickal ingredients and why they've been used to address certain ills for millennia; some even come with invocations and rituals to amplify their power.

New Orleans is an American city unlike any other, and its rich diversity is reflected in the world-class bar scene. In Drink Dat New Orleans, Elizabeth Pearce takes us on a tour of the city's many unforgettable drinking spots, including a candle-lit tavern favored by pirates in the early eighteenth century and a watering hole so beloved by locals that several urns containing the ashes of former patrons rest in peace behind its bar. A Louisiana native and co-founder of the Southern Food and Beverage Museum, Pearce brings her lifelong love of food, beverage, and local lore to this ultimate drinker's guide. From the nonstop parties on Bourbon Street to the classy cool of the Garden District, Drink Dat is the perfect way to explore America's most spirited city.