Atomic Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for Modern Times - Hardcover

Bosker, Gideon; Brooks, Karen; Darmon, Reed

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0811819264 ISBN 13: 9780811819268

Publisher: Chronicle Books, 1998

Synopsis

From a glittering Stardust Martini to a Cognac Zoom, Atomic Cocktails blasts into the ether with more than 50 Space Age cocktails. Tonic to tequila, mood music to maraschino cherries, this book's for everyone who isn't sure what goes into a Gimlet and thinks Angostura is a kind of sweater. It reveals the secrets that ardent swingers have spent years discovering, including the fundamentals of mixology and how to master all the classics. The repertoire includes cosmic concoctions, tropical exotica, summer coolers, hot shots, some real originals, and specials from the alcohol-free zone. The authors also add a guide to essential ingredients and tips on mixing a drink with a knowing flick of the wrist -- plus how to serve it in the perfect glass with the perfect garnish. Come on you birds and hot daddies, it's happy hour!

About this title

Review:

What cocktails do you think people enjoyed in the Polish Middle Ages? You don't know, do you? Neither does anyone else. That's because no one bothered to write such things down. But if you had to write about American culture from, say, Prohibition to the current fin de siècle, you would be hard pressed to leave out the cocktail.

So hats off to Karen Brooks, Gideon Bosker, and Reed Darmon, who have taken it upon themselves to gather up the arcana while it is still fresh and available and save it between covers for this generation and many more to come. Design, recipes, and writing all stand out in this cocktail lovefest that courts kitsch while all but taking itself seriously. You'd certainly have trouble doing much better for a collection of cocktail recipes than those provided herein. The design gathers all that was hip and cool in the '50s, '60s, and '70s, by about which time the cocktail was fading in the face of wine on the one hand and party drugs on the other. This book is a nice sharp stick in the eye of the New Puritanism--as the authors point out, the mighty American industry that rose up in the 1950s was built on the three-martini lunch. We can, of course, only hope that decisions affecting a wider population--who's going to drive, for example, or where to dump that toxic waste--are no longer being made after three martinis, no matter what the time of day.

And speaking of martinis, while the authors make good with tasty drink recipes such as the Stardust Martini and the Cognac Zoom, sadly missing is the Cajun Martini made popular by chef Paul Prudhomme. Now that's a cocktail to tangle with. --Schuyler Ingle

From the Inside Flap:

Turn off the TV, cue up Old Blue Eyes, and turn on the night with this complete guide to classic and contemporary drinks. The ultimate invatation to swank refreshment, Atomic Cocktails takes you deep inside the rituals and mythology of the fabulous fifties and swingin' sixties.

Tough day at the office? Unwind with a nice, cool Urban Bourbon. Looking for the perfect martini? Authors Brooks, Bosker, and Darmon shed light on the shaken vs. stirred theories and introduce you to six savvy versions. Party time? The Guava Daiquiri of the Party Gods will have you dancing in the moonlight.

Atomic Cocktails reveals the secrets ardent swingers have spent years discovering, including the fundamentals of mixology and how to master all the classics: the Manhattan, Side Car, Old-Fashioned, Mint Julep. The Atomic Cocktails repertoire includes space-age selections, tropical exotica, summer coolers, hot shots, some real originals, and specials from the alcohol-free zone. It even includes a guide to gadgets and glassware. And you'll find an indispensable shopping section that covers all the essential ingredients from flavored vodkas to fine rum, complete with recommendations for both high-end and budget options.

So break out the swizzle sticks and get yourself ready, it's time for a little liquid libation, atomic style.

About this edition

• Publisher: Chronicle Books
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0811819264
• ISBN 13: 9780811819268
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 96