Cocktail: The Drinks Bible for the 21st Century Review
Viking, May 1998.Hardcover, 236 pages.
ISBN: 0670880221.
With the resurgence in popularity and hipness of such classic drinks as the Martini and the Gibson, clearly a reliable yet hip guide was needed to guide the twenty, thirty and forty-somethings through the wilds of the cocktail jungle. Never fear, Wired's alchemist Paul Harrington and Laura Harrington have taken on the task of initiating a new generation to the cocktail nation. With fabulous artwork and a snazzy look, the book is as visually appealing as it is useful to budding bartenders. Part 1 of the book guides you through the maze of drinkmaking, describing the proper glassware, the right garnishes, how to measure drinks and why the right ice or water is so important to the taste of a cocktail.
Part 2 showcases the most popular 64 classic drinks with full color photos, a history lesson on the drink (for that all-important party chatter) and complete mixing instructions. Part 3 provides 250 additional drink recipes, replete with rankings of the difficulty of making the drinks. The book also includes a complete glossary of important terms that no mixologist should be without. Comprehensive and very readable, this is one reference guide that no self-respecting hip host or hostess should miss.
Ordering information: Amazon.com.
Return to the July 1998 issue of The IWJ.