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by: Dale DeGroff
September 2002
Clarkson Potter/Publishers
The first cocktail book by the widely recognized king of cocktails presents a masterful collection of both cocktails, and cocktail lore.
Dale DeGroff is one of the few bartenders whose reputation is known and respected worldwide. I'm frankly a little surprised that it has taken him this long to put pen to paper and produce his first collection of cocktail recipes and wisdom.
There are a multitude of cocktail recipe books on the market these days, and often it seems like each of them is simply rehashing the same old recipes over, and over again. The results are that the only difference from one book to another will be in the ratios they might recommend for the Sidecar, Margarita, Manhattan, or perhaps in the recipe that they suggest as the proper way to make Sex on the Beach.
It is refreshing to see a book in which the personality of the author himself finds its way on to virtually every page. From the very beginning Dale shares with us his own personal story on how he began upon his own "quest for just the right cocktails with just the right recipes." In the pages the follow, he continues to provide us with personalized insights based on his enviable career as one of New York's best bartenders, in some of New York's best bars.
Before he dives into his carefully selected set of cocktail recipes, Dale first provides the reader with much of the necessary background information that is needed to understand the history of the cocktail, the ingredients that are commonly used, as well as the techniques for constructing the perfectly architected libation. All of this information is beautifully augmented by the many full-color photographs that clearly illustrate the techniques and components being discussed.
Within the second part of the book, you will find 500 cocktail recipes that have been carefully selected to represent the best cocktails of today, and yesterday. You will of course find many of the classic standards, such as the Martini, Sidecar, Manhattan, and Old Fashioned, but you will also find more modern-day cocktails, such as the Cosmopolitan (which Mr. DeGroff played a roll in introducing) and the Apple Martini. Dale also presents some carefully organized "categories" of cocktails with many different recipes that fall into this category. These categories include the obligatory set of various Martini recipes, but also include the Bloody Mary, Caipirinha, Cobbler, Julep, and many other great sub collections both old, and new.
While I haven't taken the time to count them all, Dale includes quite a few of his own creation within these pages. Some of the ones I personally recommend include the Anejo Highball, Rainbow Julep, and Old Flame. You'll also find that Dale has included unique cocktail creations by many other talented bartenders around the world, such as the Gin Gin Mule, by Audrey Saunders; the Debonaire Cocktail by Gary and Mardee Regan; the Paris, by Colin Field; and many other cocktails by other names you most likely are equally familiar with.
Throughout all of these pages, Dale interjects a variety of interesting facts, historical reference, and personal commentary. All of this provides a clear indication of the passion and enthusiasm that he brings to this topic and is hopefully trying to impart upon the reader in some small fashion.
For more information about Dale DeGroff and his cocktail explorations, you can refer to http://www.KingCocktail.com
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