Ultimate Encyclopedia of Wine, Beer, Spirits & Liqueurs

This is the definitive reference guide to alcohol-based drinks. It features a tour of the world's great wine regions, from Bordeaux to Rioja, and from South Africa's Cape to Australia's Barossa Valley, and the wines they produce. It is an authoritative guide to brewing and drinking beer, with notes on the strength and taste of popular brews. It is a definitive directory of spirits, liqueurs, fortified wines and mixers, plus instructions for making perfect cocktails such as a Singapore Sling, Margarita and Dry Martini. This accessible reference guide provides all the facts you need to enjoy classic drinks to the full. The book contains a review of the best wines of the world, with advice on what to look for when tasting a wine, and suggestions for choosing wines to serve with food. It then explores the history and production of beer, with lively descriptions of all the main types, such as bitter, brown ale, lager and stout. Finally, the book looks at spirits, liqueurs and fortified wines, including gin, vodka, whisky, Cointreau, Southern Comfort, Marsala, sherry, port and vermouth. Combining informative text with over 1500 glorious photographs, this is an essential guide to alcoholic drinks.