Classic drinks
3 total works
The Aztecs are thought to have made a fermented drink similar to tequila as early as the 3rd century BC, and barrel-aged and blended golden tequilas can have a quality to rival that of cognac and scotch. Good tequila has a herby/spicy aroma and flavour with an oily texture. Tequila is distilled from the heart of the blue-leaved "agave", a large cactus-like plant that takes some 12 years to mature in the the Mexican province of Jalisco ( a "Denominacion de Origen"). There are hundreds of brands of tequila, from classics like Jose Cuervo - who have been distilling since the 18th century - to aged ("anejo") and reserve ("reposado") specialities and little-known small batch brands. This title covers: the culture and history of tequila; how tequila is made; an A-Z of all the classic brands with tasting notes; classic cocktails from the Margarita to the Tequila Sunrise; what to eat with and how to cook with tequila; and a gazetteer of tequila bars, shrines and destinations in Mexico and around the world.
This title tells all you need to know about malt whisky, from the processes of making it to the customs of imbibing it. In one sense, the production process is straightfoward: barley is malted, milled and mashed which yields a sugary liquid fermented by yeast which is then distilled twice in copper pot stills and then aged in oak barrels. But, as Ian Wisniewski shows, every step of the process offers options which can have a profound influence on the whisky from the variety of the barley, the type of barrel used to the source of the water. The book also gives the role malt whisky has had to play in Scottish culture from Burns night celebrations, and sporting occasions to wedding rituals and the traditions of the distilleries themselves. An A-Z of brands with brief histories and tasting notes, plus advice on how to serve malt, as well as a gazetteer, makethis a reference book for anyone with an interest in the drink. Originally researched at the distilleries in Scotland, this is a guide for anyone who enjoys a dram, or two, and wants to know more of the drink's culture, origins and technology.
This guide to vodka includes: the history of vodka; how vodka is made; the marketing of vodka; a full list of brands and their labels with tasting notes; how to drink it; what to eat with vodka; and how to cook with it.