Zero Proof Cocktails: Alcohol-Free Beverages for Every Occasion Review

This pretty little recipe book is meant for two main audiences: those who don't like the taste of alcohol (some of us are quite sensitive to it), and those who can't drink it (for example, those whose religions forbid it). This way, those who find themselves longing for the intricate and interesting taste experiences that alcohol drinkers can enjoy can get in on the fun. Some of the recipes are meant to duplicate the flavors of existing drinks or alcohols for people who can't drink alcohol but enjoy it, while other recipes are simply meant to be delicious drinks in their own right rather than knock-offs of existing cocktails. Some drinks come with suggestions for substituting in alcohol for those who want to make two drink versions for their drinking and non-drinking guests. For those people who can't touch a drop of alcohol, there are great tips to help you watch out for "hidden" alcohol content in some ingredients you might otherwise think to use.

When I think of "cocktails" I tend to think of things like margaritas and martinis, but Liz Scott has taken a much wider view on the term! She has divided her book into five types of drinks: elixirs and aperitifs, martinis and party cocktails, mealtime libations, dessert drinks, and nightcaps. She includes a foreword on ingredients and equipment that's quite thorough, even addressing things like the fact that "alcohol-free" wine and beer can legally contain up to 0.5% of alcohol--an important detail for those for whom alcohol is a matter of prohibition, not taste. Many of the recipes come with gorgeous photographs that will certainly whet your appetite!

Elixirs and aperitifs are meant as before-dinner drinks, and were originally created as medicinal beverages. Many of them include herbal ingredients, and the recipes in this chapter are surprising and diverse. Even though I don't like the taste of alcohol and thus knew the serious mock-alcohols wouldn't be my favorite drinks, I could tell by the taste of the one we made (a mock sherry) that it was good, just not my thing.

The "mocktails" in the martini & party cocktails chapter are imaginative and fun! Whether you prefer mojitos, margaritas, or coladas, in orange, mango, lime, or pineapple, you'll find something in here to whet your appetite. There's a variation on a champagne cocktail in here that's just divine.

Mealtime libations are designed, much the way wine is chosen, to complement certain foods or meals. Want some non-alcoholic mimosas to go with brunch? You've got `em! A white tea infusion makes an alternative to white wine, and a dry grape grigio is designed to pair with poultry. The strawberry white sangria is so good I could make that recipe alone over and over. If you'd normally serve a Zinfandel, try the pomegranate-based "pom zinfandel."

Of course plenty of the drinks in the preceding chapters would make fine desserts, but Zero-Proof Cocktails goes one better with an entire chapter of specific dessert drinks. How about hopscotch eggnog (it uses butterscotch syrup in place of schnapps), or a toasted almond cordial?

Since nightcaps are meant to help one sleep or aid in post-dinner digestion, you'll find both mock versions of traditional nightcaps (such as spiced apple brandywine, which of course doesn't have any real wine in it) and a few originals. The almond roca buona notte is simple and heavenly, much like a cup of warm milk. There's a sweet ginger tummy tea, and even a catnip tisane!

The only difficulty is that the recipes do call for many unusual ingredients. There is, however, a listing of resource websites in the back of the book that will definitely help. I found blood orange bitters at Williams-Sonoma, and sparkling grape juice in the Kosher aisle at the grocery store. Our local Whole Foods Market had the no-sugar-added white grape juice. Other recipes call for exotic fresh fruits or juices, flavor syrups, or teas, but as long as you're willing to order a few ingredients online you should be fine.Get more detail about Zero Proof Cocktails: Alcohol-Free Beverages for Every Occasion.

The Old Waldorf Astoria Bar Book 1935 Reprint Top Quality

Got this for research, not really intending to make anything from it, but it's very interesting. Amusing anecdotes and little cartoons, too. Wish it were hardbound.Get more detail about The Old Waldorf Astoria Bar Book 1935 Reprint.

Port and the Douro (Classic Wine Library) This instant

The book was exactly what I ordered.It was received in a very short period of time.Get more detail about Port and the Douro (Classic Wine Library).

Moon Northern California Wine Country (Moon Handbooks) Immediately

This is a great book for those wondering where to go and what to do in the wine country, and also a pretty good resource for winetasting in general. I've lived in Northern California for most of my life and always wondered where to go. I was sick of going to the same 3-4 wineries in Napa every year. So I bought this book. It does a great job of describing the history and general feel for wine regions I had heard of but didn't know anything about - such as Carneros, Dry Creek, Russian River, Anderson Valley, and Santa Cruz. The author is apparently a wine-writer, which comes through in this book. For example, he explains the difference between organic and biodynamic wine making and recommends wineries that do both. He also discusses the art of winetasting at great length, which I found helpful. When he lists a winery, he mentions the wines that the winery is known for and suggests tasting certain wines. There is a glossary with dozens of winetasting terms. He has some useful suggested itineraries. We enjoyed the "Classic Cabernets" and "Pleasures of Pinot" self-tours. And the book's maps are useful. Even though I usually use my car's GPS unit to find wineries and restaurants, some of the addresses aren't in my maps so I have to rely on the maps in the book, which are pretty accurate. The maps are also useful to plan an itinerary. One word of caution - I would double check the hours of wineries, even though they are listed in the book, because they seem to change. Same goes for the restaurants. But otherwise its a great book.Get more detail about Moon Northern California Wine Country (Moon Handbooks).

Beachbum Berry's Grog Log Best Quality

Looking at all the other reviews for the Grog Log, I see nothing but five stars awarded to this nifty little book, and I am not going to break with precedent.

For the uninitiated, "tropical", "exotic" or "tiki" drinks are part of a subgenre that the more snobby elements of the cocktail world would refer to as kitsch. A succesful mainstream cocktail book presents itself as emmaculately as a James Bond tuxedo (see Dale DeGroff). A successful tiki drink book on the other hand presents itself as a hawaiian shirt. The hook however, is that a good tiki drink is no less sophisticated as a mainstream cocktail...and truth be told...it is usually more complex.

Unlike some of the other tropical drink recipe books, Grog Log is no frothy collection of colorful cocktail photos with some syrup-heavy recipes thrown in. Instead, like good tiki bartenders, Jeff Berry along with Annene Kaye have created a sophisticated concoction. Grog Log is equal parts (1) overview of the tiki drink movement, (2) reproduction of the uniquely crude, tacky, and delightful visual style of the classic tiki bar era, and (3) substantive recipes of the drinks themselves. This last element sets this book apart from others as "THE" authority on tiki drinks (along with its companion volume "Intoxica").

For the most part, to fully appreciate these recipes, you need to have a taste for rum and preferably a liking (or love) of citrus fruits. Fear not, because after sampling an authentic Mai Tai, it is hard not to meet both requirements.

Finally, at the time I write this, the book appears to be out of print and is fetching some high prices in the used market. Again fear not: as an FYI, Beachbum Berry states on his website that: "Our publisher plans to reprint the Grog Log [and Taboo Table] this summer." Get more detail about Beachbum Berry's Grog Log.

The Little Black Book Of Beer (Little Black Books) Get it now!

The Little Black Book Of Beer has brief sections on beer history, advice about tasting, and a section on beer styles. In the section of styles, Cullen gives a couple paragraphs on characteristics and 4-5 specific beers you might want to try.

The book is the size of a large memo pad. I can see giving it as a gift to someone along with a mixed selection of craft beers. Anyone already knowledgeable about microbrews/imports won't find anything useful here. Get more detail about The Little Black Book Of Beer (Little Black Books).

California Wine Country: The Most Beautiful Wineries, Vineyards, and Destinations Buy Now

I bought this book for my mother for Christmas. She wanted a picture book about the wine country in CA so she could paint some of the scenes. She had just visited my sister in S.F. and loved every minute of her visit. She LOVES this book. It contains beautiful photographs of Northern California and she looks forward to painting many pictures.Get more detail about California Wine Country: The Most Beautiful Wineries, Vineyards, and Destinations.