"The drinks announced in the subtitle of Epstein's book evoke the arcane charms of the Old World, but have, in recent years, made a comeback among bartenders and mixologists. Epstein narrates their history while also liberating them from the dusty drinks cabinet. A first chapter on vermouth, essential for the now near-ubiquitous negroni–a heady blend of vermouth, aromatics and fortifying spirit (Epstein notes its 'sultry darkness')–prepares the reader for the cocktail of genres that follows: travelogue and history mix with guidance, a glossary (for the more arcane terms of the drinking arts), and recommended reading. . . . The succinct battery of cocktail recipes at the end of the book . . . [features] unfussy preparations that showcase the wines' varied characters."– "Times Literary Supplement"
