July 12, 2010
It has been so damnably hot on the east coast for the last week or so, we couldn't find it in ourselves to even write about booze. We drank it of course, but in our un-air-conditioned estate we could barely afford the calorie expenditure of bringing glass to lips, much less typey-typey in our torturous hotbox of an office.
So, to get things back on track, we have found a book for you. We haven't read it, nor did we really research it beyond the title, but c'mon...it's called "How to Booze." We've already ordered ours, not that we need all that much help, but this writeup convinced us:
Kaye, a lawyer who has worked as a bartender and sommelier, and Altier, a bartender and drinks consultant, keep the patter snappy as they cover proper drink pairings for the times of your life, from first date to last rites, with entertaining entries for such unique crises as "Drowning Out the Ticking of Your Biological Clock" and "Realizing Your Child Is a Fucking Idiot."
Snap it up and read it in a hammock while balancing a drink on your belly, when you're supposed to be doing something constructive. That's what we plan to do.
How to Booze: Exquisite Cocktails and Unsound Advice
April 13, 2010
If the Internet had existed in the 1940s, we imagine Bernard DeVoto would have had a very successful liquor blog. You know what we mean - the kind of blog you're so devoted to that you subscribe to its RSS and fan it on Facebook - and we would have frequented it on the regular. Don't believe us? Then perhaps you don't believe in The Hour - that holiest of holy moments when you get your first drink of the day.
One part celebration, one part history, two parts manifesto, Bernard DeVoto's The Hour is a comic and unequivocal treatise on how - and why - we drink properly. The Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner turns his shrewd wit on the spirits and attitudes that cause his stomach to turn and his eyes to roll (Warning: this book is NOT for rum drinkers). DeVoto instructs his readers on how to drink like gentlemen and sheds new light on the simple joys of the cocktail hour. Daniel Handler's introduction to this re-issue of the 1950s classic provides a humorous framework for the modern reader.
Pick up the reissued
The Hour: A Cocktail Manifesto at Amazon, and help yourself to a nice little glass of history.
February 15, 2010
One of our favorites of the failed children's book titles that hit your inbox back in 2002 or so is "Daddy Drinks Because You Cry." If you take issue with the hilarity of that book title, click that little X in the top right of your window right now (or the one on the left if you're one of those people) - you are banned from the Internet.
The above paragraph has nothing to do with the reasons you should buy David Cross's book I Drink for a Reason. If you want reasons, get a time machine so you can count the individual tears of laughter running down our faces while we read the book jacket and a few selected tidbits this weekend. In summary, you should buy the shit out of this book.
I Drink for a Reason by David Cross at Amazon
November 16, 2009
We've spent significantly more time searching for one than the other, but this book is right up your alley if you're interested in either, or just a fascinating history. Don't be afraid to take this bad boy to your local and pull up a stool...you may end up discussing the book with your fellow patrons more than reading it, but hey...that's what going to a bar is for.
The Search for God and Guinness: A Biography of the Beer that Changed the World at Amazon
October 5, 2009
For some reason, the staff here at Liquor Snob have had a wild hair this autumn to try our hands at making our own wine. We've done some brewing in the past (we're no Brew Dudes, but we can hold our own), but winemaking has always seemed daunting. There's the longer maturation period, for one thing, and while we'd guzzle pretty much anything beer-shaped, we've been worried that our natural laxity about things like "cleanliness" and "reading directions" would leave us holding whole mess of vinegar.
Nevertheless, we decided to start out with some country wine, made with fruit we've picked ourselves, and we've got the Fruit Wine Making Kit to prove it. Our only problem? A complete and total lack of knowhow about how to get started or even what to make. Which is where Making Wild Wines & Meads: 125 Unusual Recipes Using Herbs, Fruits, Flowers & More (Amazon) comes in. With more than 100 recipes, including mead for when we're feeling a bit renaissance faire, we're sure there's a wine in there we'll be able to make without embarrassing ourselves. Here's hoping, anyway.
Making Wild Wines and Meads
September 15, 2009
A couple years ago we were really impressed with a book called What to Drink With What You Eat, a tome dedicated to helping you pair your food with the right drink, and your drinks with the right food. Well, when we say "impressed" we mean by the concept, because we didn't actually pick up the book until a couple weeks ago, but we've been fascinated since then. When we ordered that one another book was recommended to us called "The Flavor Bible," (Amazon) and we wanted to share with our readers about that one as well.
Not a cookbook or recipe book per se, this book is dedicated to simply telling you what flavors go well together. A very simple concept well executed, the book is formatted to let you know which flavors complement one another (the no-brainer apple/cinnamon home run) and which shouldn't be on the same plate or in the same glass (you can shelve your plans for an oyster and tarragon cocktail).
In the short time we've had it this book has helped our cooking immensely, as well as helping us be a bit more adventuresome with our mixology. Now we can check to see what kinds of flavors go well together, and use that as a springboard for creating more interesting, exciting cocktails. Both books are highly recommended for cooking and cocktail creation.
What to Drink with What You Eat (Amazon)
The Flavor Bible (Amazon)
(Thanks for the tip, DKF)
February 23, 2009
We've been getting more and more interested in bourbon lately, and while we could just stick a nipple on a bottle of Maker's and be completely happy, we're always interested in trying different labels. That's why we have high hopes for Bourbon at its Best - we've seen the drink at its worst (and it's seen us that way too). This looks like a great book if you're interested in learning more about the history and creation of the sweet nectar, as well as information about particular brands.
Bourbon at its Best: The Lore and Allure of America's Finest Spirits
February 3, 2009
We don't spend a lot of time reading travelogues, mostly because we don't want to see page after page of some dude having the time of his life while we're stuck here with the Interns. However, we've got a friend who's heading out to Ireland in April, and we think this might just be right up his alley. From what we've read, it makes for a funny read and a nice little guidebook while obsessively searching for the perfect Guinness.
Though with this particular fella, maybe someone should write a book called "Ireland Straight Up: In Search of the Perfect Middleton." Hell, maybe he'll just write it while he's there.
Pint-Sized Ireland: In Search of the Perfect Guinness
January 15, 2009
Normally, the word "mocktail" would never, ever be found on this website. Ever. But we're bending our firm rule about that because it seems juuuust about every female we know (other than the Liquor Wife, praise be to Jebus) got knocked up has been in the family way and has recently or is about to squeeze out a squalling poop factory bundle of joy.
One of the things we've noticed is that the moms-in-waiting kind of shafted on cocktails with the whole "not really allowed to drink" thing, and we've sensed a steely note in their voices as they ordered another water or juice. Thankfully, Natalie Bovis-Nelsen (The Liquid Muse) has written a book of virgin cocktail recipes that could help give some variety and partially scratch the itch.
Within these pages are 75 original Preggatini recipes highlighting fresh juices, herbs, and garnishes as well as ideas for Preggatini Parties - a modern spin on the humdrum baby shower. Organized by pregnancy stages and symptoms, this lavishly illustrated, pocket-sized, virtually intoxicating guide also offers quotes from famous mums about pregnancy and health and such options as 'De-virginize for Dad' - making these drinks applicable to all.
We're particularly interested in the 'De-virginize for Dad' concept, but you could probably figure that out for yourself.
Preggatinis: Mixology for the Mom-to-be [discovered via About.com Cocktails]
December 12, 2008
Here's something we can get behind - a listing of 300 beers that are interesting, tasty, or otherwise awesome? Wait, all beer is awesome. But apparently these beers are EXTRA awesome.
300 Beers to Try Before You Die!
How to Booze: Exquisite Cocktails and Unsound Advice
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