The 12 bottle bar : a dozen bottles, hundreds of cocktails, a new way to drink

"It's a system, a tool kit, a recipe book. Beginning with one ... idea--a complete home bar of just 12 key bottles--here's how to make more than 200 classic and unique mixed drinks, including sours, slings, toddies, and highballs, plus [a martini, Manhattan, and mint julep]"--Page 4 of cover.;Introduction -- Tools of the trade -- The 1 bottle bar -- The 3 bottle bar -- The 4 bottle bar -- The 12 bottles. Brandy ; Dry gin ; Genever ; Amber rum ; White rum ; Rye whiskey ; Vodka ; Orange liqueur ; Dry & sweet vermouth ; Aromatic & orange bitters -- Putting it all together. On being a good host ; Beer, wine & cider drinks ; Virgin drinks ; Garnishes, syrups & liqueurs. It’s a system, a tool kit, a recipe book. Beginning with one irresistible idea--a complete home bar of just 12 key bottles--here’s how to make more than 200 classic and unique mixed drinks, including sours, slings, toddies, and highballs, plus the perfect Martini, the perfect Manhattan, and the perfect Mint Julep. It’s a surprising guide--tequila didn’t make the cut, and neither did bourbon, but genever did. And it’s a literate guide--describing with great liveliness everything from the importance of vermouth and bitters (the “salt and pepper” of mixology) to the story of a punch bowl so big it was stirred by a boy in a rowboat.