Short Synopsis
David Wondrich presents the newly updated edition of his definitive guide to classic American cocktails.

Full Synopsis
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.

The first edition, published in 2007, won a James Beard Award. Now updated with newly discovered recipes and historical information, this updated 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 nineteenth-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-listen for anyone who appreciates the timeless appeal of a well-made drink—and the uniquely American history behind it.

"This book will leave you shaken and, I hope, stirred. Wondrich, one of the top spirits writers in the country, delves into the rich and fascinating history of mixology in America." ---USA Today

"Imbibe brings back the delicious forgotten cocktails created by a pioneering American bon vivant. . . . This book is a model for food history writing. . . . [Wondrich is] always an enjoyable writer, curious, eager, mildly opinionated and with a taste for the amusing." ---Los Angeles Times

"Cocktail connoisseurs and history buffs will find this book an essential addition to their reference libraries." ---San Francisco Chronicle

"Wondrich delivers a well-researched chronicle of "Professor" Jerry Thomas's life and times as late 19th-century bartender extraordinaire . . . a lovely homage to Thomas's indomitable spirits." ---Publishers Weekly