Some of the books in today's guide offer cocktail recipes, but more importantly, they tell great stories. Every author in today's mix is a great raconteur, each with a unique and fascinating voice. These books scratch the surface of cocktail and drinking history, while exploring imbibing customs both in the United States and around the world. More
It's time to reinvigorate your cocktail routine for warmer weather. How about an Aloe Pompier? Or would you rather cool down from a hot work week with a Kamikaze Popsicle? You say you want both? We'll never tell. These two recently published books will help you mix up new boozy refreshments for spring (and each title costs just a bit more than a single drink out on the town.) More
Sometimes you want a glass of wine (something rich and Italian sounds nice). And sometimes you want to read about wine (knowledge is power, yo). Thankfully there are two new books to help you master either goal: Slow Wine 2012: A Year in the Life of Italy's Vineyards and Wines and The Ultimate Wine Companion: The Complete Guide to Understanding Wine by the World's Foremost Wine Authorities will have you sipping with substance and style this spring. More
If you're a budding beer geek, listen up: you should read this book. Joshua M. Bernstein's Brewed Awakening: Behind the Beers and Brewers Leading the World's Craft Brewing Revolution covers pretty much every current trend in beer and makes the basics pretty fun. More
Nothing makes a better partner for a great cup of coffee than a good book to scan while sipping. Whether you're looking to learn more about the history of that beautiful elixir, or to simply be transported to its tropical habitat (for better or worse), here are five titles that belong on any bean-lover's bookshelf. More
The hilly terrain of tea writing is fraught with all types of mythology, internet health schemes, ancient rituals, zen meditations, homilies for the lacy doily set, etc. But there's also a ton to learn about tea around the world. We've compiled a short but sweet list of five tea books we like best for their direct delivery of real—and intriguing!—information on all things tea. More
The best-selling premium spirit in the world is the Russian-originated Smirnoff. The company has a heritage that spans back to the early 1800s, with the birth of Pyotr Smirnov. This fascinating heritage is recounted in The King of Vodka: The Story of Pyotr Smirnov and the Upheaval of an Empire, by Linda Himelstein. More
Five years ago, absinthe wasn't just scarce—it was verboten. Now, three years after the once-banned spirit became legally available in the U.S., two new books covering absinthe and absinthe cocktails have been released: A Taste for Absinthe, by R. Winston Guthrie and James F. Thompson, and Absinthe Cocktails, by Kate Simon. Here's what you need to know before venturing any further with the green fairy. More
Last week saw the debut of Boozehound, Jason Wilson's book chronicling a lifetime of exploration of the world of drinks, with a special focus on the last few years when he's been trotting the globe in pursuit of spirituous splendor. For Wilson, as for many of us who wind up on the booze beat, drinks are about much more than the simple substance in the glass. More
Want books with a little substance to take to the beach? Perhaps you're just getting serious about wine, but you don't really know where to start learning more. Maybe you find yourself in the aisles of your local wine shop, wishing you could decode the labels and find something great that you haven't had before. Or maybe you're looking for a gift for the wine-dabbler in your life. We've got you covered. Here are eight great wine books for reading now and referring back to later. More
