Imbibe! Updated and Revised Edition

From Absinthe Cocktail to Whiskey Smash, a Salute in Stories and Drinks to "Professor" Jerry Thomas, Pioneer of the American Bar

By: David Wondrich

Narrated by: David Colacci

Cocktail writer and historian David Wondrich presents the colorful, little-known history of classic American drinks - and the ultimate mixologist's guide - in this engaging homage to Jerry Thomas, father of the American bar.

The first edition, published in 2007, won a James Beard Award. Now updated with newly discovered recipes and historical information, this updated edition includes the origins of the first American drink, the mint julep (which Wondrich places before the American Revolution) and those of the cocktail itself. It also provides more detail about 19th-century spirits, many new and colorful anecdotes and details about Thomas' life, and a number of particularly notable, delicious, and influential cocktails not covered in the original edition, rounding out the picture of pre-Prohibition tippling.

This colorful and good-humored volume is a must-listen for anyone who appreciates the timeless appeal of a well-made drink - and the uniquely American history behind it.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2015 David Wondrich (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"This book will leave you shaken and, I hope, stirred. Wondrich, one of the top spirits writers in the country, delves into the rich and fascinating history of mixology in America." ( USA Today)

its a great book to learn history of many drinks

I loved the narrator. I also loved the dry humor of the book itself

enjoyed

fantastic in depth and informative of primarily American cocktail history well narrated. I would suggest having the recipes handy while listening because they are left out of the narration.

One of my favorite nonfiction books.

One of my favorite nonfiction books. I’ve read it twice now. Will probably listen again soon.

ESSENTIAL READ FOR ANYONE IN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

This book is truly a delight and adventure into the exciting field of mixology - the art, the histories of the great leading developers of bartending - the bartenders themselves, the individual liquors, liqueurs, and timelines of the additions of mixers, spices, common use of ice, methods & tools of mixology... if you're a bartender and haven't read this book yet (and David Wondrich's latest work The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails) hold on tight - because you're in for the ride of your life! It is to Bartending what the Red Pill is to the Matrix - your bartending world will never be the same!

Cocktail origin book to rule them all

If you need the real story about a drink’s origin or it’s best known original recipe… this should be in your collection.

Doesn't Get Any Better for Cocktail Lovers

Wondrich is a gift to the bar world, and this his magnum opus. I loved it when first published and this update packs enough new info to justify a second read (and purchase).

Well done

Great book about the history of the American Cocktail. Well researched and fascinating history explained about a topic with sources of history scattered through out news papers and various publications.

What a resource!

Well researched, well written and well preformed. All around excellent audio book, and the pdf is an incredible a addition.

Thorough, but you better be interested

A history of pre-prohibition cocktails... as of Aug 2024, the recipe PDF is still available. Recipes are not read in the audiobook, which is sometimes odd, as the author will comment of the choices made, but you have no context without the PDF in hand.

I you are not into cocktail history, this is sure to be boring.

Good, but...

Great book, strong performance, wrong format... It's a lot to have to listen to the book and reference back to the included pdf.