Slippery Tipples: A Guide to Weird and Wonderful Spirits and Liqueurs

By Joseph Piercy

From European favourites such as Mastichato Chios, which saved 2,000 Greeks from a bloody massacre at the hands of vengeful Turks, to legendary drinks such as Amarula, invented by African elephants; from classic cocktail ingredients like Midori, the bright green Japanese melon drink launched at the wrap party for Saturday Night Fever at Studio 54, to student stalwart Jägermeister, dreamt up by a confidant of Herman Göring and hugely popular among senior Nazis, Slippery Tipples tells the stories behind the word’s most extraordinary drinks.

Alongside a country-by-country guide to murky and mysterious booze and dozens of cocktail recipes is a series of easy to follow recipes for making your own liqueurs and spirits. If you would like to concoct your own fruit brandies or make a drop of traditional full-strength Pimms then this is the book for you.

Joseph Piercy was born in Brighton. After spending far too long at university studying Russian Literature and Creative Writing, Joseph embarked upon a journey which took him to various parts of the world in an honest attempt to avoid anything faintly resembling a proper job. He has enjoyed an occasional drink or two along the road.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The History Press
• Release date: Sep 8, 2010
• ISBN: 9780752496856

Joseph Piercy

Joseph Piercy is a freelance writer. He holds a Master of Philosophy degree in English Studies and is a regular contributor to various magazines and journals. He is the author of 1000 Words You Should Know and The 25 Rules of Grammar, also published by Michael O'Mara Books Limited. He lives in Brighton with his wife and daughter.

Reviews for Slippery Tipples

[tnilsson_24 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This sounded like it would prove to be a very interesting book. But it is so riddled with odd choices, and outright errors (including incorrect cocktail recipes), that not only can't you rely on what it says, but you won't even find correct recipes (or any recipes at all) for the best cocktails using the spirits and liqueurs covered in the book. This book is a great idea, badly executed.