Imbibe! Updated and Revised Edition: From Absinthe Cocktail to Whiskey Smash, a Salute in Stories and Drinks to "Professor" Jerry Thomas, Pioneer of the American Bar (TARCHERPERIGEE)
Cocktail writer and historian David Wondrich presents the colorful, little-known history of classic American drinks--and the ultimate mixologist's guide--in this engaging homage to Jerry Thomas, father of the American bar.
Wondrich reveals never-before-published details and stories about this larger-than-life nineteenth-century figure, along with definitive recipes for more than 100 punches, cocktails, sours, fizzes, toddies, slings, and other essential drinks, along with detailed historical and mixological notes.
The first edition, published in 2007, won a James Beard Award. Now updated with newly discovered recipes and historical information, this new edition includes the origins of the first American drink, the Mint Julep (which Wondrich places before the American Revolution), and those of the Cocktail itself. It also provides more detail about 19th century spirits, many new and colorful anecdotes and details about Thomas's life, and a number of particularly notable, delicious, and influential cocktails not covered in the original edition, rounding out the picture of pre-Prohibition tippling.
This colorful and good-humored volume is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the timeless appeal of a well-made drink-and the uniquely American history behind it.
Reviews (75)
Incredibly informative, somewhat heavy reading, not great for quick reference
Wow. Just, wow... what a book. Imbibe! by David Wondrich is the winner of the James Beard Award and generally considered one of the most in depth cocktail books available and for very good reason. The amount of research, work, and passion that went into this project is evident in every single page and it makes me excited to read Mr.Wondrich's other book, Punch. That said, I'm not sure I can fully recommend this to the at-home or beginner bartender. It took me several weeks to make it fully through this book, partially because I have a poor attention span, but also because the sheer amount of information is overwhelming. I am currently in the process of re-reading Imbibe and taking notes as I go to ensure that I fully understood and remember the material... I'm on page 3 of notes and I'm not even halfway through. The only other book I've done that with (so far) is Proof: The Science of Booze. That said, lets get down to it! I purchased the hard cover copy of Imbibe as I do with all my 'work' books, since they are intended as reference material and that translates poorly to Kindle. Also they will most likely be kept in a bar so I prefer to have the sturdier option as opposed to a soft cover. The picture on the front of the book is exemplary of what you will find within it's pages: it features an old illustration of a bartender pouring a flaming drink back and forth to the amazement of his customer. This does come with a half size book jacket that adds to it's aesthetic, though I personally hate book jackets. Fortunately it isn't one of those books where the jacket is essential. As for organization, the book can essentially be broken up into two categories: context and recipes. I found the "context" section to be the most engaging; it spans the first two chapters and about 100 pages wherein Wondrich explains who Jerry Thomas was and how his book became so influential in bartending. He also delves into American drinking culture, a segment has been instrumental in helping me to visualize and immerse myself in the time period Wondrich describes. You cannot possibly overstate how much culture Americans lost to prohibition. As someone who grew up in a relatively alcohol-free home, the world that Imbibe describes is as utterly foreign to me as my world would be to a 18th century bartender. That's not to say that the learning and context stops with the recipe section however! In most cocktail books, when you get to the recipes section you might get a small blurb about the origins of the cocktail or serving suggestions and the like. Not so with Imbibe; it treats you to an in depth explanation of the cocktails historical context, it's most likely origin, common myths shrouding the drink and then also the recipe along with variations. For every question it answers it leaves you with five more. Now, I'm all about having more information all the time but Mr. Wondrich really pushes the boundary with this. As a learning material, this makes perfect sense. Even the recipes are formatted in an informative way. As a reference guide? Not so much... When I was recently attempting to recreate some of the eggnog recipes from the book it took upwards of 20 minutes to translate the information given into a usable recipe. On the one hand, it was very useful to me (a non-eggnog drinker) to see what the basic tenements were, but if someone is searching for a recipe book, look elsewhere. Probably the most egregious example is the Morning Glory Fizz. After giving the recipe and the likely spirits used in it Mr.Wondrich goes on to give a slight variation: "For the equally effective Saratoga Brace Up,... use a whole egg, replace the scotch with brandy, lose the lime juice, cut the absinthe down to 2 dashes, and add a couple of dashes of Angostura" (p.137, Imbibe) ... straightforward enough, but when it's every recipe it can become somewhat strenuous. There is certainly one place where Imbibe stands far and above all other cocktail books I've read thus far: Notable Quotes. Perhaps people just don't talk about drinking the way they used to before prohibition... perhaps in all respects our descriptions have become less 'colorful' and 'evocative'. It's a terrible loss in my opinion. No other book have I set down frequently to just take in a delightfully sassy review of someone's cocktail or untimely demise. "He spent page after page dissecting the literary, theatrical, and political celebrities whom he served, from Sullivan and Morgan to Edwin Booth, Oscar Wilde, and Tomb Thumb... This is the world that Prohibition destroyed, a world where you could pop into a bar for a glass of something cool and find yourself standing next to, and soon conversing with, a senator, a playwright, and a sculptor of renown. The culture was convivial and the barrier to acceptance was low." (p.110, Imbibe)
Worth reading although a bit too long.
A treasure trove of bartenders' trivial for the era before the civil war through to prohibition. Warning: this book is very long and the author uses very obscure vocabulary words to make minor points. This book is heavy on both bombast and substance. 4 stars (instead of 5) for the bombastic word choice and the fact that it is 200 pages longer than it needs to be. The same information could be conveyed using 200 pages less. The weird, hyper-literate vocabulary slows down the reading significantly. This book is heavy on pomp and fluff. On the other hand, it represents some of the best scholarship on the topic of American Mixology between 1801 and prohibition. Worth reading, but a hell of a slow read.
Written for lovers of language, hard to dive into
I bought this book in 2015 based off the wonderful reviews. I love cocktail history. This book has a lot of incredible information, but I just cannot get into it. I've started and stopped this book 4 times. If you love the English language, this book is for you. If you want to learn history in a quick read and very digestible, then you might struggle like I have been. My preference is to read something more... basic? In a more casual way, but still something well written. Wayne Curtis' "And A Bottle of Rum," is another cocktail history book that was just as informative, but written in a much more engaging way for me.
Maybe one of the Best writers of this generation.
This has some great recipes, but it is Wondrich's writing that sets him apart from other cocktail books. Great background on some of your most favorite recipes and a wonderful historic jaunt through American history. Could not recommend more, if you get the chance, check out his annotated version of the Bon Vivant's Companion for free (web search, you'll find it), there is a great demonstration of the Blue Blazer by Wondrich.
Completely fantastic
This book is amazing, the research must have taken.. years. SO well done, the prose is detailed, excellent and flows, it includes everything. I mean everything-- a cross-referencing of the drinks, the history, society at that time, popular trends, just terrific. A fun and engrossing read, and dying to try the recipes. I'm more of a fan of history than drinks, but this book really interested me in the origins of liquor/cocktails and their place in culture. Definitely ordering Wondrich's other books. If you're simply looking for a bar manual or recipe book, this is not those books. Otherwise, highly recommended!
Informative but heavy reading
This is an historical review of alcoholic drinks, their origins and their evolution. It is a great reference but definitely not a "page turner." The writing style seems forced into the historical past and makes for heavy reading, particularly when delving into some of the lesser known drinks.
Fun book to learn cool old drinks
Sort of a blend between a history book and a recipe book, as it guides you through the evolution of bartending as techniques and ingredients changed through the years. I've had a lot of fun with this, learning new drinks all along the way. I really liked the vanilla punch!
Mandatory read for aspiring bartenders.
Jerry "The Professor" Thomas is defined as being the father if mixology. Wondrich presents and distills the travels and innovations of one of the most overlooked American iconoclasts.
Delightful history of American Cocktails
Fascinating history of American cocktails. While I'm not opposed to innovation, I find a well made version of classic recipes for foods & beverages are usually better than the latest fad version. This book details the pedigree of dozens of classic cocktails and their ingredients.
Wonderful Book!
This is a great book. Educational and entertaining. If you like to experiment with cocktails this is a must for your libarary.
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