Cocktails and After Dinner Drinks

There are times when we drink to quench a thirst, or to sharpen our tastebuds before a meal, or to toast a friend or a special occasion. Wine goes with food; beer goes with thirst. But the last drink of the day - the one we have after dinner and before going to bed - is drunk for no other reason than sheer pleasure. That final drink of the day may take many forms, according to local custom or family tradition. In Scotland, it may consist of a sip of well-aged single malt whisky, while the traditional after-dinner drink in England is an old port. The French appreciate a bedtime balloon glass of good Cognac and South Africans enjoy a fine pot-still brandy, or a sweet jerepigo. In each case the drink is designed to help you digest your meal and relax your mind in preparation for a good night's sleep. No wonder it is sometimes referred to as a 'nightcap'. After Dinner Drinks is the ideal companion to choosing and enjoying that nightcap. More than just a guide to enjoying brandy, cognac and port, this book covers the full range of after-dinner drinks, including dessert wines, Madeira, whisky, bourbon, Armagnac, Calvados, rum, marc, grappa, eaux de vie and other liqueurs, as well as Irish coffees and after-dinner cocktails. Sections include information on how to serve, how much to serve, the right glass, accompaniments and timing.