A lively A-to-Z compendium of the notable drinks, bartenders, and bars that shaped the cocktail world and produced the vibrant spirits culture we enjoy today, from two-time James Beard Award-nominated author and New York Times cocktail and spirits writer, Robert Simonson.
How did the Old-Fashioned get its name, and why has the drink endured? What drinks were invented by Sam Ross?What was the Pegu Club, and who bartended there? In The Encyclopedia of Cocktails, Robert Simonson catalogues all the essential people, places, and drinks that make up our cocktail history in a refreshing take on the conventional reference book.
New York Times cocktail and spirits writer Robert Simonson's witty and opinionated presentation of the bar world is a refreshing look at all things cocktail-related. There are more than 100 drink recipes, from the Adonis to the Zombie, with vivid illustrations throughout. Simonson also includes entries for spirits from absinthe to vodka and illuminates the origins of each. This guide isn't a strictly academic text, nor is it simply a collection of drink recipes-it isan animated, sometimes irreverenthistorical journey highlighting the preeminent bars and top bartenders of record.
The Encyclopedia of Cocktails is perfect for cocktail nerds as well as anyone interested in learning about cocktail culture. It's both a recipe book and a reference guide to keep near the bar or flip through while sipping your favorite libation.
About the Author
Robert Simonson is the author of six previous books about cocktails and cocktail history, including The Old-Fashioned (2014), which kicked off an ongoing cottage industry of single-drink cocktail books; A Proper Drink (2016), the first-and so far only-history of the current cocktail renaissance; 3-Ingredient Cocktails (2017); The Martini Cocktail (2019); Mezcal & Tequila Cocktails (2021); and Modern Classic Cocktails (2022). Both 3-Ingredient Cocktails and The Martini Cocktail were nominated for James Beard Awards; Mezcal & Tequila Cocktails won a 2022 IACP Award; and The Martini Cocktail won a 2020 Spirited Award. Simonson is also the recipient of a 2019 Spirited Award for best cocktail and spirits writer and a 2021 IACP award for narrative beverage writing. He writes about cocktails, food, and travel for the New York Times, where he has been a contributor since 2000. He is a primary contributor to The New York Times Essential Book of Cocktails. Simonson is the co-author, with Martin Doudoroff, of two apps, "Modern Classics of the Cocktail Renaissance" and "The Martini Cocktail." He is also the author of the prominent Substack newsletter "The Mix with Robert Simonson." He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Mary Kate, and their children, Asher and Richard.
