Sometimes you just need a good strong drink. On those days, The Perfect Drink for Every Occasion is the one of the best manuals around. Written by Duane Swierczynski, it boasts 151 cocktails for just about every situation. You really can’t go wrong with this one.
Looking for a drink that will impress your grandma? Try a Sidecar.
How about when you’re in the mood for a manly drink with a girlie name? Enter a Pink Gin.
Need a Leap Year cocktail? Not to worry, it’s in here, too.
There’s even a bit in here for when you’re watching James Bond movies. Dr. No deserves a Medium-Dry Vodka Martini, Goldfinger a Mint Julep and Thunderball a Rum Collins.
If you enjoy a bit of cleverness paired with alcohol, The Perfect Drink for Every Occasion really should grace your bookshelves.
This would be a great gift to a newly drinking-aged person, which (according to the book) should guzzle a Kamikaze on their 21st birthday. There are also hangover cures for when the drinks flow a little too freely.
You may be thinking, cleverness aside, how are the drinks? At their core, they are mostly classic cocktails. I found myself flipping through the book more often than I expected. As an indecisive drinker, I really liked being told what to drink based on the holiday/my mood/major life event.
For this post, I tried out the What to Drink if You’re Tired of Gin and Tonics. The answer was The Aviation. It’s a simple three-ingredient cocktail. As the book describes, “Still the same gin, but the boring tonic water is jettisoned in favor of the sweet Maraschino—a clear-but-not-cloying Italian liqueur—and a bit of sour from the lemon juice.”
The book itself is also laid rather nicely. It begins with creating the perfect set-up, moves onto technique and then gets into the recipes. There are no fancy photographs accompanying each drink. Instead, you get the recipe and a quick anecdote.
All in all, I’m a fan. I’m also looking forward to my next post-nap whiskey and soda.
The Perfect Drink for Every Occasion by Duane Swierczynski
- 2 oz. gin
- 1oz. lemon juice
- 1/2 to 1 oz. Maraschino liqueur or simple syrup
- Pour everything into a shaker filled with ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass or serve over ice.
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