Boozehound: On the Trail of the Rare, the Obscure, and the Overrated in Spirits
Despite its flippant title, Wilson’s book has a serious purpose. Its author wants to raise the level of Americans’ appreciation for liquor, that oft-maligned beverage whose connoisseurs find alive with subtle and complex flavors and worthy of imbibing for delights far surpassing mere intoxication. Wilson’s quest for the finest liquors has taken him all over the world. He has sampled the delights of Peruvian pisco, Mexican tequila, and French cognac under some remarkable circumstances. He favors robust distillates such as cognac and whiskeys over the bland neutrality of vodka. He includes recipes for dozens of classic cocktails from New Orleans’ sazerac to the ubiquitous martini. Wilson marks the rediscovery and return of some classic gins and rare liqueurs such as crème Yvette. So long as people continue to enjoy their evening cocktails, they will find fascinating the lore of liquor that Wilson relates with such good, often ribald, humor. --Mark Knoblauch