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Over 124 colour photographs
Over 50 recipes

• A classic guide to fabulous vodka drinks from the traditional Screwdriver, Harvey Wallbanger and Sea Breeze through to exotic concoctions such as the Chilli Vodkatini, Apres-Ski and French Horn



• Easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions for each recipe, with full-colour photographs of the finished results



• Short histories outline the origin of each cocktail, with expert tips on how to prepare and blend the ingredients, and how to serve the finished drink



• Advice on essential cocktail-making equipment, glasses and tricks of the trade, including creative ideas for garnishes and decorations



• A guide to the different types of vodka on the market, from Absolut to Smirnoff, as well as flavoured vodkas such as cherry and bison-grass varieties

Simple and yet sophisticated, vodka is one of the world's most popular and versatile spirits. Pure and unadulterated, it is colourless and tasteless, and can be drunk quickly or sipped slowly, drunk neat or blended with other spirits and fruity mixers, served alone or with the classic accompaniment of Russian caviar, as long as it is served painfully cold.

This definitive little handbook contains a seductive selection of 50 vodka recipes, from old favourites such as the original Screwdriver through popular concoctions such as the refreshing Kew Punch to trendy new mixes such as the colourful Soft Fruit and Ginger Cup.

Each drink recipe begins with a lively introduction explaining the history of the cocktail; for example, the Vodkatini was popularized by James Bond and is famously "shaken, not stirred", while the Harvey Wallbanger derives its name from a gentleman by the name of Harvey who drank several of these cocktails and then walked into a wall.

There are guidelines on how to serve vodka, the specialist bartending equipment you will need and the types of glasses that can be used. There are step-by-step instructions on the tricks of the trade, such as crushing ice, frosting glasses, making fruit twists, muddling drinks and steeping vodka, and professional bartending tips. For aficionados interested in learning more about vodka, the book describes the history and uses of vodka, explaining how it is made from grains (principally rye) and how it can be flavoured with other ingredients such as blackcurrants, lemon or chilli.

Whether you prefer a traditional Moscow Mule or Bloody Mary, or fancy a Kemplinsky Fizz or Sex on the Beach, this book will help you enjoy your favourite tipple even more.

About the Authors

Stuart Walton - Author

Stuart Walton has been writing about alcoholic drinks since the early 1990s. A prolific writer and commentator on wines and spirits, he is currently writing for the London Paper, World of Fine Wine magazine and www.wine-pages.com. He is also the author of The New Encyclopedia of Wine and The Complete Guide to Cocktails and Drinks (both Lorenz Books), as well as You Heard It Through The Grapevine, Out Of It: A Cultural History of Intoxication and (with Jeffrey Benson) The Right Wine with the Right Food.