Apothecary Cocktails: Restorative Drinks from Yesterday and Today

by Warren Bobrow

At the turn of the century, pharmacies in Europe and America prepared homemade tinctures, bitters, and herbal remedies mixed with alcohol for curative benefit for everything from poor digestion to the common cold. Today, trendy urban bars such as Apothke in New York, Apo Bar & Lounge in Philadelphia, and 1022 South in Tacoma, as well as "vintage" and "homegrown" cocktail aficionados, find inspiration in apothecary cocktails of old. Now you can too! Apothecary Cocktails features 75 traditional and newly created recipes for medicinally-themed cocktails. Learn the history of the top ten apothecary liqueurs, bitters, and tonics that are enjoying resurgence at trendy bars and restaurants, including Peychaud's Bitters, Chartreuse, and Vermouth. Find out how healing herbs, flowers, and spices are being given center stage in cocktail recipes and traditional apothecary recipes and ingredients are being resurrected for taste and the faint promise of a cure. Once you've mastered the history, you can try your hand at reviving your restoratives, sedatives and toddys, digestifs, and more. Whether you're interested in the history, the recipes, or both, you'll love flipping through this beautifully presented book that delves into the world of apothecary cocktails.

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction, Cocktails, Food and Drink, Cooking, Alcohol, Beverages

164 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

About Warren Bobrow
Warren Bobrow is the creator of the popular blog cocktailwhisperer.com and the author of Apothecary Cocktails, Whiskey Cocktails and Bitters & Shrub Syrup Cocktails.

Warren has taught classes on spirits and cocktails all over the world, including an advanced class on rum at the Moscow Bar Show. He's taught the fine art of social media and food writing at the New School in New York as well as classes on creative cocktails and mocktails at Stonewall Kitchen in Maine.

Warren has written hundreds of articles on cocktails and food for Chilled Magazine, Saveur, Whole Foods/Dark Rye, Total Food Service, Eater, Voda, Serious Eats, Foodista, Distiller, Sip and Beverage Media as well as many other international outlets. He has also written for the Oxford Encyclopedia: Gotham issue and the Sage Encyclopedia of Food Issues. He has forthcoming research being published in the History of Food and Drink of New Jersey by Wiley Publishing.

Warren was a 2010 Ministry of Rum judge and was the only American food journalist asked to participate in Fete de la Gastronomie, a nationwide celebration of French cuisine in Burgundy.
- See more at: http://www.quartoknows.com/books/9781...

Reviews

[Shari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's say 3.5 stars. It was an interesting book, although I wish they had pictures of all the drinks. Not sure if you can get all the ingredients at any liquor store and I'm guessing some of them will be expensive. Haven't tried any of the recipes yet although some look good. Might be good (assuming you have the ingredients) if the economy tanks as some suggest. Personally don't think it's worth the price being asked, but that might just be me.


I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

[Warren Bobrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant book.. not just another book on how to make a better margarita, but a true visit into the mind of the pre-1906 Apothecary.

[Rachael Colwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good list of fun cocktails to try for those who like herbal concoctions, and gives a lot of fun ideas. I thought it had plenty of pictures honestly, I wouldn't have minded a tad more detail / history but this is a good reference for cocktail ideas regardless! Added about 10 things to my liquor shopping list.

[Sherri · Rating 2 out of 5]

A look a pre-pharma drinks to cure what ails you. Several ingredients were unknown to me and, literally foreign, could be expensive to find. Interesting history. Wish there were more pictures.

[Juli Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of interesting historical information in addition to the recipes.

[eHawk · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a lover of herbal or more medicinal flavors in my drinks. It's not for everyone, but I love it. In that context this is a book brimming with ideas for me!

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book

Looking forward to trying many of the recipes and liqueurs highlighted in this book. Who knew Jagermeister was a curative?

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun history, fun cocktails. Likely difficult to find some ingredients though, and if found, likely quite expensive.