Food & Wine 2009 Cocktail Guide

Book excerpt: As a scene-scoping, style-seHing, modern magazine, Food & Wine always keeps tabs on the hottest nightlife trends. The 150 cocktails presented here were the ones chosen by the top mixologists in the country. These are the cocktails making a sensation in the hippest eateries and bars throughout the nation; the drinks bartenders get asked for again and again. And amateur mix-masters won't find better recipes for tradilional favorites. Each chapter focuses on a particular spirit, and every page highlights one or two special cocktails, along with interesting anecdotes about these cocktails. A "Cocktail Clinic" offers tips on stocking the bar with essenlial glassware and tools, as well as a list of the country's best resources for bar staples. An index in the back has the names, addresses, and phone numbers of the top clubs in the country, which adds up to a comprehensive nigh"l"life guide to major cities nationwide. Plus, there's lots of exciting new material, including a whole chapter on the most classic cocktails; a directory of the best liquor stores in the country, so readers can source all the ingredients for these amazing drinks; an expanded spirits lexicon; and delicious bar food recipes!