Wonderful things came out of the cocktail scene in 2006 and literature was no exception. Going beyond bartending guides filled with recipes, more and more authors are touching on the background and culture surrounding spirits and the concoctions we make out of them. These are some of the best books that came out of the last year and are the types of books that are perfect to sit down and read on a lazy afternoon with a Highball in hand.
1. Hemingway & Bailey's Bartending Guide to Great American Writers
Photo Courtesy of PriceGrabber
One of the best cocktail reads of the year. Illustrator Edward Hemingway (the Hemmingway's grandson) and writer Mark Bailey put together a delightful book highlighting the drinking lives and times of 43 of America's best writers. Find out what drinks William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway, Sinclair Lewis, Eugene O’Neill, John Steinbeck and Hunter S. Thompson sought out along with anecdotes and stories of how they went about it. It's hilarious, it's entertaining and it's a must read for any cocktail lover.
2. What To Drink With What You Eat
Photo Courtesy of PriceGrabber
If you enjoy a good drink with your meals but always wondered if your two choices were a good match, then this is the book for you. Beyond the average pairing guide that is concerned with gourmet dishes and high-dollar wines, this one steps into real life. Domino's Pizza, Kentucky Fried Chicken and McDonald's Big Mac are listed right alongside lobster bisque, swordfish and truffles. This is the ultimate real world food and drink pairing guide and the expert advise is priceless.
3. Cooking with Jack: The New Jack Daniel's Cookbook
For Jack Daniel's fans this cookbook may replace all others in the kitchen. There are over 100 recipes in this book and almost all include a little whiskey. If you have never had Baby Spinach and Beets with Hog Jowl Dressing or Shrimp and Scallops a la Daniel, you're missing out. Yes, it does include many fabulous cocktail recipes too but it's all about Jack.4. And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails
Photo Courtesy of: Pricegrabber.com
How could one book contain everything there is to know about rum? Wayne Curtis has hit the mark and written a rambunctious recitation of the rantings and ravings of rum's raucous history. Pirates, slavery, Hemmingway, mojitos, tiki bars and everything in between, it's all included in this entertaining account of the last 400 years of rum.
5. The Art of the Bar: Cocktails Inspired by the Classics
Artisan mixologists Jeff Hollinger and Bob Schwartz take readers on a journey through the world of fine drinking. Classic and new cocktails have been reformed with the resent renaissance behind the bar and this is a stunning guide to understanding and mastering your own skills. From choosing the right brand that has the perfect subtle flavors for a drink to making mixers from scratch, it's the little things that turn the mundane into the extraordinary and this art is explained here in an entertaining and intriguing way.6. Sake: A Modern Guide
Sake is a mystery to most people and it's an unfortunate circumstance. This wonderful Japanese drink is as complex and diverse as any other alcoholic beverage and in this book master sake sommelier, Beau Timkin, shares his vast knowledge and sheds light into this interesting drink. Learn to pair the right sake with a variety of foods from cod to fettuccine and find out which sakes make the top 50 list. To top it all off 30 cocktail recipes are included and the Hot Sake Toddy and Tokyo Elevator are two not to be missed.7. The Daily Cocktail: 365 Intoxicating Drinks and the Outrageous Events
A different cocktail for each day of the year: not a bad idea. For those times you find yourself stuck in a rut and looking for something new, just open the book to today's date and there's your daily cocktail. Not only do you have a wide range of drinks, but you also get a little history lesson. The authors found an event in history for each day of the year that was significant for one reason or another (i.e. Mata Hari's execution, the first Barbie sale, etc.) and either chose an appropriate cocktail or created a new one.8. Infused: 100+ Recipes for Infused Liqueurs and Cocktails
Infusions were hot in 2006 and because they add so much to cocktails, the trend for flavored ingredients will probably not go away anytime soon. Susan Elia MacNeal lays out everything you need to know to create wonderfully flavored infusions to enhance your favorite drinks and includes new cocktails that feature these enhanced libations. Fall in love with the lavender liqueur in Provencial Lemonade or the elderflower in the Elderflower Royale. It's a flavor explosion.9. Cocktail Hour: Authentic Recipes and Illustrations from 1920-1960
History buffs will be delighted with this sequel to Vintage Cocktails. In this book, authors Susan Waggoner and Robert Markel embark on a historical recollection of 100 classic cocktails from the golden age of lounges in America (1920's- 1960's). The stories behind and around the drinks of the time are the heart of this collection with tales about Sinatra, Cab Calloway and the famous Brown Derby.10. Cognac: A Liquid History
World renowned Cognac expert, Salvatore Calabrese, has put together a book that is as elegant as it's subject and the rich history that has surrounded it. Take a trip through time through the eyes of this noble spirit from a small region in France, learn about how Cognac is produced and Calabrese's vintage recommendations. All of this is highlighted with stunning photographs by the talented Jason Lowe.