Liqueur
A Global History
Lesley Jacobs SolmonsonExplores the rich history of liqueurs, from ancient elixirs to modern indulgence.
Rooted in ancient origins, liqueurs are the original recreational spirits. From the ancient Silk Road to the legendary Fountain of Youth, and from the Age of Discovery to the Industrial Revolution, Liqueur embarks on a thrilling exploration of these delicious concoctions’ global impact. It describes how a bitter, medicinal elixir distilled by early alchemists transformed into a sugar- and spice-fuelled luxury accessible only to royalty and the rich. Today’s liqueurs are crafted from an array of ingredients, ranging from anise to artichokes and rose petals to rhubarb. Guiding us on a bibulous adventure and featuring an extensive array of cocktails, this book takes the reader on a fascinating journey, driven by humanity’s ages-long desire for pleasure.
Explores the rich history of liqueurs, from ancient elixirs to modern indulgence.
Rooted in ancient origins, liqueurs are the original recreational spirits. From the ancient Silk Road to the legendary Fountain of Youth, and from the Age of Discovery to the Industrial Revolution, Liqueur embarks on a thrilling exploration of these delicious concoctions’ global impact. It describes how a bitter, medicinal elixir distilled by early alchemists transformed into a sugar- and spice-fuelled luxury accessible only to royalty and the rich. Today’s liqueurs are crafted from an array of ingredients, ranging from anise to artichokes and rose petals to rhubarb. Guiding us on a bibulous adventure and featuring an extensive array of cocktails, this book takes the reader on a fascinating journey, driven by humanity’s ages-long desire for pleasure.
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Liqueur by Lesley Jacobs Solmonson is a refreshingly straightforward history of those sometimes sweet, sometimes bitter modifiers often used to flavor cocktails. Should you be curious where the Cointreau in your margarita comes from or where the sugar in your Cointreau comes from,Ms. Solmonson is likely to have the answer.
'Wall Street Journal
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Comprehensive and engrossing, with entertaining insights into both the familiar and uncommon of liqueurs.
'Eric Seed, founder of Haus Alpenz
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A clear-eyed look into the fascinating tale of liqueur and all of its constituent components . . . an enlightening read.
'Sother Teague, Beverage Director, Amor y Amargo
Introduction
1 Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice
2 Information, Individuality and Independence
3 The Road to Enlightenment and Revolution
4 Invention, Industry and Commercialization: Drinking in Post-Revolutionary France
5 Bitter Pleasures
6 From the Flowing Bowl to the Cock-tail
7 Twentieth-Century Blues
8 The New Golden Age
Recipes
Appendix: Catalogue of World Liqueurs
Select Bibliography
Websites and Associations
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index
Lesley Jacobs Solmonson is a spirits and cocktail journalist and speaker who has written for numerous publications, including the LA Times, Imbibe and Wine Enthusiast. Her books The 12 Bottle Bar and Gin: A Global History were finalists at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards. She serves as a Curatorial Consultant at the Center for Culinary Culture in Los Angeles.
