Classic Cocktails: A Modern Shake

by Mark Kingwell, Seth (Designer)

A literary guide to classic mixed drinks, riffing on their place in culture, art, film, and literature. Instructions included.

For over a decade Mark Kingwell has been one of Canada’s wisest and wittiest commentators on everything from political philosophy to The Simpsons. When he turns his lively mind to the gentlemanly subject of cocktails, he not only mixes the perfect drink, but also tells us where it fits into a wider literary and social world. Loosened perhaps by a few samples of his recipes, it’s a joy to follow this elegant writer wherever he may lead us through the spirit world. Kingwell introduces us to all the Collins Tom, whom we may already know, John, Pedro, Ivan, Mike, Jack, and even Brandy — all the while regaling us with snippets from Raymond Chandler, Walt Whitman, All About Eve, and Casablanca. It’s like sitting in the city’s swankiest bar with your most erudite friend and your favourite drink.

Add a dash of original art by famed Canadian illustrator Seth and a classic is born.

Genres: Nonfiction

248 pages, Hardcover

First published October 4, 2006

About the author

Mark Gerald Kingwell B.A, M.Litt, M.Phil, PhD, D.F.A. (born March 1, 1963) is a Canadian philosopher who is currently professor of philosophy and associate chair at the University of Toronto's Department of Philosophy. Kingwell is a fellow of Trinity College and a Senior Fellow of Massey College. He specialises in theories of politics and culture.

Kingwell has published twelve different books, most notably, A Civil Tongue: Justice, Dialogue, and the Politics of Pluralism, which was awarded the Spitz Prize for political theory in 1997. In 2000 Kingwell received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, for contributions to theory and criticism. He has held visiting posts at various institutions including: Cambridge University, University of California at Berkeley, and City University of New York where he held the title of Weissman Distinguished Professor of Humanities.

He studied at the University of Toronto, editing The Varsity through 1983 to 1984 and the University of Toronto Review from 84-85. He received his BA degree from the University of St. Michael's College with High Distinction in 1985, his MLitt degree from Edinburgh University in 1987, and both his M.Phil and PhD degrees from Yale University in 1989 and 1991 respectively. He was married to Gail Donaldson in 1988. The marriage ended in divorce in 2004.

Kingwell is a contributing editor to Harper's Magazine, the literary quarterly Descant, the political monthly This Magazine and the Globe and Mail books section. He was also a drinks columnist for the men's magazine Toro. He was formerly a columnist for the National Post, and a contributing editor of Saturday Night. He frequently appears on television and radio, often on the CBC, and is well known for his appearance in the documentary film The Corporation. He has delivered, among others, the George Grant, Harold Innis, Marx Wartofsky and Larkin-Stuart memorial lectures.

Kingwell’s work has been translated into ten languages, and he lectures to academic and popular audiences around the world. From 2001 to 2004, he was chair of the Institute for Contemporary Culture at the Royal Ontario Museum. His work on philosophy, art, and architecture has appeared in many leading academic journals and magazines, including The Journal of Philosophy, Philosophical Forum, Ethics, Political Theory, and the Yale Journal of Law and the Humanities, the New York Times and The New York Times Magazine, Utne Reader, Adbusters, the Walrus, Harvard Design Magazine,Canadian Art, Azure, Toronto Life, the Globe and Mail, and the National Post.

Kingwell is one of two University of Toronto professors teaching a first year philosophy course entitled Introduction to Philosophy. Kingwell teaches his class in Victoria College's Isabel Bader Theatre, with a class size of around 700 students. He has also been part of the University of Trinity College's TrinityOne program, for which he taught a seminar class entitled Ethics and the Creative Imagination.

He describes himself as a social democrat and a "recovering Catholic". According to the Canadian Who's Who 2006, he also enjoys running, baseball, basketball, jazz, films and pop music. He has two brothers: a younger brother named Sean Kingwell and an older brother named Steven Kingwell.

Reviews

[Drew Canole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really a cocktail book, has some clever prose for each cocktail but I only grabbed this for the Seth designs.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up primarily because it was illustrated by a favorite cartoonist and comics artist, Seth, who is the perfect choice for a volume of "classic" anything. I loved the art, but I also really liked the social and literary stories Kingwell tells, really fun, and then you know, you have to make some of these along the way...

[Richard Willsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I consider myself a beer snob, and not a cocktail guy. I think this book, was a gift; and its my second time reading it. I find it very interesting. Where did the drinks originated, variations of the drinks. Lots of old-movie references concerning who might drink a Manhattan or a wall-banger. He runs out of steam about 1/3rd of the way. But a super fun read.

[David Macpherson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like collections of essays. though at the end, I am always a alittle dissapointed because instead of it leading anywhere, it just ends. This is fun with great illustrations by Seth. The writing is pithy but it seems that the author got bored writing about cocktails and found ways to write about what he did want to cover (ie. fishing, spy novels ect.) and just finding a cocktail connection. Kingwell writes well and it was a fun few hours going through it.

[bookinglibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philosophy, literature, film and humor illuminate the stories about and recipes for the drinks and drinking situations depicted in this book. Since the emphasis is on the classics, that means there's very little vodka and a whole lot of gin, nothing much sweet but quite a few unusual mixes, and of course nothing too fluffy or post-modern. Reading this book is both thirst-inducing and a whole lot of unf to read.

[Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful drinks resource, and worth the price alone for Seth's excellent design work. Get past the introduction, which reads as if sourced from a combination of writer's block and deep self loathing, and you've got an excellent series of drinks tied together each by a clever literary-cultural conceit. The individual cocktail ingredients are all easily sourced, and the glossary in the back has proven immensely useful time and again.

[Joe]

Great design/illustrations by comic artist Seth.

[Mistie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this a lot. Mark Kingwell is always a favorite read. Thanks MK