Author(s): Ben Reed

Spirits

In "The Art of the Cocktail", award-winning bartender and best-selling author Ben Reed tells you all you need to know about the art of making the perfect cocktail. In Behind the Bar, he takes you back to the basics of mixology. With a whistle-stop tour of the base spirits you'll discover what makes each drink perfect for mixing in cocktails. In Equipment and Techniques, Ben tells you how to shake or stir a martini and explains what to do with a 'muddler'. There's information on the must-have tools of the trade and using the correct glass. With more than 200 recipes, there's a drink to suit any taste. Start with a Power Aperitif, then create an irresistible Champagne Cocktail or impress your guests with one of the Smashes such as a minty Mojito. For summer drinking there are refreshing cocktails in Highballs, Coolers and Punches. Savour the classic Cosmopolitan, or shoot down an Alabama Slammer from the Slammers, Sippers and Shooters. Finally, round off a meal with a Vodka Espresso from the collection of Digestifs.