I checked this out from the library after our New York adventures, as I had a newfound interest in the art of the cocktail. Mere recipe lists would not do it for me, I wanted something with more of the history and philosophy behind the mixed drink and I found the perfect resource in this volume. I'll just quote from the book jacket: "When philosophy professor and Harper's magazine contributing editor Mark Kingwell turns his lively mind to the gentlemanly subject of cocktails, he not only mixes the perfect drink but also tells us where it fits into a wider literary and social world."
A quote from the book itself:
"The basic premise of the present book is that you should choose your drink carefully, take some care in its preparation, and enjoy it in moderation." "If inebriation should occur, at least try to stay cheerful - nobody likes a mean drunk. Drink takes people different ways at different times, as Damon Runyon's "Stages of Drunkenness" usefully illustrates. The stages... are these:
1. witty and charming
2. rich and powerful
3. philosophical
4. against the designated hitter
5. f___ dinner
6. witty and charming, part II
7. for the designated hitter
8. morose and despondent
9. invisible
10. bulletproof"
The book is charming; each chapter addresses a different cocktail or family of cocktails, with frequent reference to the historical and cultural importance of the given drink and some information about the proper mixing thereof. Amusingly the chapter on the whisky sour begins, "It's a grown-up drink, and frankly not all of them are despite the liquor laws."
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