Difford's Encyclopedia of Cocktails: 2600 Recipes
Following earlier editions under various titles, this comprehensive British encyclopedia is now published in the U.S. It includes 2,600 recipes arranged alphabetically by the name of the drink—from A1 and ABC to Zoom and Zubway. In addition to the recipe, each entry has a symbol for the author’s rating, from “Disgusting” to “Outstanding.” The type of glass (with a photo of the finished drink), garnish, and method are also noted. Entries for most recipes include variants, the drink’s origin, and Difford’s comments, some of which are entertaining. Interesting facts and amusing quotations related to alcohol are interspersed throughout the text. (Dorothy Parker said, “I do like a dry martini, / Two at the very most, / After three I’m under the table, / After four I’m under the host.”) More than 400 of the recipes (indicated with a key) can be made with 14 key ingredients listed in the introduction. An index by ingredients is followed by an appendix that describes major ingredients.   Because the recipes are alphabetical by title, it may be difficult to find a recipe through the index because not all ingredients are listed. However, Difford has a Web site (www.diffordsguide.com), which seems to include the majority of the recipes. They can be searched there by name or by combining types of ingredients. The encyclopedia is highly recommended for reference or circulating collections of libraries that have patrons interested in alcoholic beverages and who, even if they have access to the Internet and Difford’s Web site, would prefer to find the information in a book. --Christine Bulson