Book review: Signature Cocktails
Conneticut raised cocktail guru Amanda Schuster releases a new cocktail book just in time for the holidays
Perhaps spending her youth growing up in a dry town could have transported her mind to where the echoes of Prohibition lingered in the air, instilling a peculiar fascination with the clandestine world of speakeasies and the allure of forbidden libations. Her town’s parched atmosphere, devoid of the legal indulgence to purchase alcohol, may have created a mystique around the very beverages that were barred. Maybe it was romanticized tales of the Roaring Twenties and the defiance against Prohibition that played out vividly in her mind. The allure of classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned, the Sidecar, or the Gin Rickey may have taken on an almost mythical quality, symbols of an era where rules were bent, and spirits were enjoyed discreetly. Whatever it may have been, the quintessential New Yorker of the last 34 years, Amanda Schuster, grew up in Wilton, CT, while it was a dry town. Yet, somehow, she cultivated a deep appreciation for the craftsmanship behind these vintage concoctions of the Prohibition era – and, in fact, the vast history of all cocktails.
After spending several years as a retail wine and spirits buyer, Amanda Schuster has written about wine, spirits, cocktails, and travel for numerous publications, including Forbes, Bloomberg News, Imbibe, SevenFifty, Distiller.com, Bevvy, and is the former Senior Editor-in-Chief of Alcohol Professor. She has served on the tasting panel for Ultimate Spirits Challenge and the John Barleycorn Spirit Awards and is a media judge and Timeless Committee member for the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards.
Her new book, SIGNATURE COCKTAILS, showcases 200 iconic drinks, all of which have rightfully earned their place in the rich history of cocktail culture: from classics such as Harry’s Bar’s iconic Bellini, to the up-to-the-minute Twin Cities from New York’s ultra-hip Dead Rabbit bar; from daring inventions such as Mexico’s Grasshopper Gibson, to Argentina’s stylish Clarito; and from the newly created Connaught’s PHAIDON 100 to the instantly recognizable Tequila Sunrise. Each cocktail is accompanied by the stories behind the creation, stunning photography, and a recipe for making it at home. It truly celebrates 200 of the world’s best cocktails and the mixologists who created them.
A dedicated and knowledgeable historian of all things alcohol, an industry consultant, and a cocktail connoisseur, Amanda Schuster has assembled a beautiful book of the ultimate must-try cocktails from all corners of the globe. It is a must-have for anyone who loves cocktails and is the perfect gift for any would-be mixologist or even an expert bartender. Both SIGNATURE COCKTAILS and her previous book, NEW YORK COCKTAILS – An Elegant Collection of Over 100 Recipes Inspired by the Big Apple sit on my bar at home. And while I am a die-hard lover of a Manhattan, I hope to try each and every drink featured in Amanda Schuster’s picturesque and elegant books.
Click here to purchase SIGNATURE COCKTAILS.
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