The is a brilliantly engaging and thoroughly informative book for any classic cocktail afficionado. When I want to try something new and interesting, I look in this book and waste half the evening just reading the interesting and well-researched text, mentally noting at least four that I could make, and three more that I need just one more ingredient for.

Fortunately today many of the more obscure ingredients are once again available (although I have yet to find bottled Swedish Punsch, Kina Lillet, or Boker's Bitters).