On the Shelf: November Book Reviews

Of All the Gin Joints jacket
OF ALL THE GIN JOINTS
By Mark Bailey
Algonquin Books, September 2014
$19.95
Did you know that silent film actress Mary Pickford — known as America’s sweetheart — used to stash liquor in hydrogen peroxide bottles during Prohibition? That’s just one of the stories unveiled in author and screen-writer Mark Bailey’s Of All the Gin Joints, a look at America’s iconic silver-screen legends and the decadent, alcohol-soaked world of Hollywood fame and fortune. Illustrated by Edward Hemingway, the book details outrageous stories about film sets drenched in booze, with mini-biographies, ribald anecdotes, memorable quotes and favorite cocktail recipes. Of All the Gin Joints invites readers in to the glamorous party scene of Tinseltown’s history and the drinking that made it shine.

 

12 Bottle Bar_cover
THE 12 BOTTLE BAR: A DOZEN BOTTLES. HUNDREDS OF COCKTAILS. A NEW WAY TO DRINK.
By David Solmonson and Lesley Jacobs Solmonson
Workman Publishing, August 2014
$14.95
Caught up in the craft cocktail craze but tired of the hole in the wallet left by nights out in Los Angeles, the husband- and-wife writing team of David Solmonson and Lesley Jacobs Solmonson set out to bring the vast drink selection offered at their favorite bars into a more affordable setting: their living room. Five years later, The 12 Bottle Bar is the result of their labors – a breakdown of 12 home-bar essentials and the 200-plus cocktails they create. The straightforward guide to maximizing the liquor cabinet hits on all the classics, along with modern twists such as seasonal cocktails and beer and wine concoctions.

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Tasting_Whiskey
TASTING WHISKEY: AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO THE UNIQUE PLEASURES OF THE WORLD’S FINEST SPIRITS
By Lew Bryson
Storey Publishing, October 2014
$18.95
For the uninitiated, whiskey can be an overwhelming spirit to embrace, and for the connoisseurs, there is always more to learn. Tasting Whiskey satisfies both audiences by demystifying the complex spirit and delving deep into its intricacies. The book details traditions from the world’s major whiskey producing regions and explains the particulars of storing, serving and savoring the spirit. Penned by Whiskey Advocate managing editor Lew Bryson, the book synthesizes nearly two decades worth of his personal experience and research into a book that can be enjoyed by novices and aficionados alike.

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Death Co
DEATH & CO.: MODERN CLASSIC COCKTAILS
By David Kaplan, Alex Day and Nick Fauchald
Ten Speed Press, October 2014
$40
The official Death & Co book comes from the team behind one of the world’s most influential and lauded bars. Authors David Kaplan, Alex Day and Nick Fauchald share hundreds of recipes for signature creations from their New York hot spot. In addition to classic cocktails, the book includes chapters on the theory and philosophy of drink making, a complete guide to the spirits, tools and other ingredients needed to make a great bar, and recipes for nearly 500 iconic cocktails. Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails also boasts illustrative charts and infographics, as well as colorful essays about the characters from inside the bar each night.

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