Straight Up or On the Rocks: The Story of the American Cocktail
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Book Overview
The first comprehensive account of the cocktail, newly revised and expanded The cocktail is as old as the nation that invented it, yet until this entertaining and authoritative account, its story had never been fully told. William Grimes traces the evolution of American drink from the anything-goes concoctions of the Colonial era to the frozen margarita, spiking his meticulously researched narrative with arresting details, odd facts, and colorful figures. After exploring the proto-cocktails of the early nineteenth century, Grimes tracks the rise of the saloon and the bartender, and the spread of the American cocktail to Europe; the golden age of the cocktail, from 1880 to 1920, when classics such as the Bronx, Manhattan, martini, and daiquiri came into being; the Jazz Age and the subterranean world of the speakeasy; the post-Prohibition lull and the Cold War landscape of cocktails that followed; the strange efflorescence of a Polynesian-influenced lounge culture; and the recent resurgence that has produced a wave of exciting new drinks. (The martini, of course, gets a chapter of its own.) The book includes about one hundred recipes-half of them new for this edition-for both classics and innovations.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0865476012
ISBN13:9780865476011
Release Date:November 2001
Publisher:North Point Press
Length:256 Pages
Weight:0.85 lbs.
Dimensions:8.5" x 0.8" x 5.8"
Customer Reviews
3 ratings
Better as a history than a recipe book
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
Grimes traces the history of that uniquely American invention, the cocktail, from its origins in colonial times to its current revival. He is particularly entertaining when reviewing extinct drinks -- ever wonder what a shandy is? -- but the storied bartenders and venues are also a pleasure. The second half of the book is recipes. For these, you're probably better off with a bartender's handbook.Net -- mix yourself a drink and settle into your favorite armchair for this one.
Fascinating -- and concise -- history of the cocktail.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
William Grimes does a great job summing up the allure of the cocktail in American culture. Too bad the book came out before the big cocktail boom in England during the 90's, or that would have made an excellent chapter. Not just for bartenders or restaurant owners, but the perfect gift for anyone interested in American popular culture!
Entertaining and informative.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 27 years ago
With an emphasis on the cocktail, Straight Up Or On The Rocks is a solid and entertaining history of drinking in America. Grimes' appreciation for a good cocktail is evident, and while he has his opinions on certain drinks, you understand why he has them. This could be very useful for restuarant and bar professionals. The drink recipe section in the back, while short, is very good.
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