title: The Complete Book of Spirits: A Guide to Their History, Production, and Enjoyment (Drinking Guides)
author:  Anthony Dias Blue 
description: Many bartending guides provide scant information about drink ingredients themselves. So a Mai Tai calls for rumwhat kind? If youre mixing a Vodka Tonic, how should the vodka smell? Why does a Bombay Sling require bitters? (And what are bitters, anyway?) Blue, who is Bon Apptits wine and spirits editor, intelligently answers these questions and others in this full analysis of libations other than beer and wine. He covers vodka, aquavit, gin, rum, tequila, scotch and Irish whiskey, North American whiskey, brandy, liqueurs and bitters, addressing what each spirit is made of, how its made, its history, the various flavors that exist and even the numerous brands available. Blues historical outlines of each spirit are fascinating; for example, in the chapter on vodka, he tells the saga of the Smirnov (later changed to Smirnoff) family and their exile from Russia to Paris. But with the history comes up-to-the-minute information on popular beverages like the mojito, a rum drink thats currently "one of the hottest drinks on the club scene." Although the guide isnt lighthearted, its casual enough to inspire page-flipping and informal perusal.<br />Copyright  Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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  > RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
  
  > Make Me A Match Series
  
  > KAY LYONS
  
  > Kindred Spirits Publishing
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  RULES OF ENGAGEMENT Copyright © 2020 by Kay Lyons
  
  Cover art Copyright © 2020 by @ luckybusiness
  
  Cover art design by Kindred Spirits Publishing
  
  [978-1-953375-00-1](https://www.myidentifiers.com/title_registration?isbn=978-1-953375-00-1&icon_type=Assigned)
  
  [978-1-953375-01-8](https://www.myidentifiers.com/title_registration?isbn=978-1-953375-01-8&icon_type=Assigned)
  
  All rights reserved.
  
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  > Contents
  
  > [Chapter 1](index_split_003.html#filepos6715)
  
  > [Chapter 2](index_split_004.html#filepos24362)
  
  > [Chapter 3](index_split_005.html#filepos40383)
  
  > [Chapter 4](index_split_006.html#filepos67134)
  
  > [Chapter 5](index_spl