VOLUME 0 • NOT ON THE CONTENTS PAGE
The Back Bar
Every drink the twelve field guides keep pointing at, collected in one place: the recipe, the method, the glass it belongs in, and how it came to exist. You found this the hard way.
HOUSE RULES
Four Things That Fix Most Drinks
Squeeze It Today
Lemon and lime juice start losing their edge within a few hours and taste flat by the next day. Nothing else in a sour matters as much.
More, Not Less
A glass packed with ice dilutes more slowly than a half-empty one, because the drink stays colder. Small wet cubes are the enemy.
Water Is an Ingredient
Shaking or stirring adds roughly 20 to 25 percent water. A drink that tastes harsh is usually under-shaken rather than badly balanced.
It Is Wine
Once opened, vermouth belongs in the fridge and should be replaced within a month. A dusty bottle has ruined more Martinis than bad gin ever has.