Imbibe! Updated and Revised Edition: From Absinthe Cocktail to Whiskey Smash, a Salute in Stories and Drinks to "Professor" Jerry Thomas, Pioneer of the American Bar

Written by David Wondrich and Dale DeGroff

Narrated by David Colacci

Cocktail writer and historian David Wondrich presents the colorful, little-known history of classic American drinks—and the ultimate mixologist's guide—in this engaging homage to Jerry Thomas, father of the American bar.



The first edition, published in 2007, won a James Beard Award. Now updated with newly discovered recipes and historical information, this updated edition includes the origins of the first American drink, the Mint Julep (which Wondrich places before the American Revolution), and those of the Cocktail itself. It also provides more detail about nineteenth-century spirits, many new and colorful anecdotes and details about Thomas's life, and a number of particularly notable, delicious, and influential cocktails not covered in the original edition, rounding out the picture of pre-Prohibition tippling.



This colorful and good-humored volume is a must-listen for anyone who appreciates the timeless appeal of a well-made drink—and the uniquely American history behind it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Aug 22, 2017
• ISBN: 9781541476684

David Wondrich

David Wondrich is Esquire's longtime drinks correspondent and the author of the James Beard Award–winning book Imbibe! He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Reviews for Imbibe! Updated and Revised Edition

[paul_s-289480 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I found the history of bartending extremely boring. Maybe because I'm not that into cocktails. There's a bit of historical background context which makes it somewhat interesting. And of course there are the recipes.

[silentq_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a great companion read to Jerry Thomas's original "How to Mix Drinks", kudos to J. for the awesome combo present. :-) This book expands upon the 1800's version, updating things, giving some more history and adding in lots of new cocktails. I made the brandy cocktail from this book (not sure why I didn't make it from the original) and it was delicious.