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It!
Title: The Perfect Cocktail
Author: Greg Dempsey
Publisher: Doubleday/Main Street Books
Rating: Hurricane Warning
An example? The inclusion of over 100 specialty shots for starters.
You'll find the standards like the Lemon Drop or Dr. Pipper, plus miniature versions of favorites like the Alabama Slammer and Woo Woo.
About half of the book is dedicated to instruction on creating the drinks. Mr. Dempsy wisely ignores the fixed ounce in favor of the barman's shot, a relative quantity used by most bartenders (usually 3/4 to 1 1/4 oz.)
Of interest to non-professionals is the "Chronological Order in the Making of a Mixed Drink". Nine steps to the perfect cocktail? Go take a look.
Most of the steps seem to be common sense, but by following this simple order you are able to adequately mix numerous drinks on short order.
For people looking to stock a home bar, Mr. Dempsey has created a shopping list. And he doesn't miss a thing, including wine, beer, condiments and garnishes.
The rest of the book reads like an essay on Spring Break. Recipes for drinks like the Climax, Windex, Vulcan Mind Probe, Road Kill and Mind Eraser are plentiful.
To his credit, Mr. Dempsey also finds room for the Dry Martini, Stinger and Vodka Grasshopper.
The book is by no means a replacement for Mr. Boston or the American Bartenders Guide. It is merely the complete reference guide of cocktails for the 90's.
1. Garnish rim of the glass, usually with salt or sugar (this is usually done on a handful of drinks).
2. Fill the designated glass with ice.
3. Pour the primary liquor into the glass.
4. Pour the secondary liquor into the glass.
5. Pour the primary mixers into the glass (in most cases steps 5 and 6 are interchangeable; however, certain drinks require step six to follow step five).
6. Pour secondary mixers into glass.
7. Add the garnish to the glass.
8. Add a straw or mixing rod to the drink.
9. Serve with a coaster or napkin.
