The Cocktail Handbook

This handbook is for those interested in mixing their own alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The book begins with a history of cocktails from America's prohibition period to their transformation into a chic, modern drink, and looks at famous cocktail bars today. It features the glasses, equipment, base spirits and mixers necessary to create a wide range of classic and unusual cocktails. There is also a short section of hangover cures and non-alcoholic cocktails. The selection of recipes includes all the classics plus more unusual and exotic concoctions, including hot and cold punches, shooters, shakers and flamers, liqueur coffees, ice-cream cocktails and non-alchoholic cocktails.

David Biggs is the author of the bestseller Make your own Cocktails, first published by New Holland in 1993. He is an accomplished writer on wines, spirits and cocktails and regularly lectures on wine appreciation. He is based in South Africa.