60-second cocktails Amazing drinks to make at home in a minute

British drinks writers Harrison and Ridley offer snappy libations for home mixologists in this spirited guide to the art of easy-to-assemble cocktails. The authors divide their 60-second concoctions into three groups ("No Shake Sherlock," "Shake It Up," and "Magnificent Mixes") and color code the libations for selecting based on mood, flavor, or occasion. Cocktail kit basics (tools, glassware, and stocking a home bar) aim "to get you shimmyin' and shakin'," while techniques for using ice, shaking, and garnishing add to the speedy cocktail philosophy. In a fresh twist on the cosmopolitan, cranberry juice is switched out with fresh-squeezed orange and lemon juice, while the traditional old-fashioned leans sweet and smoky thanks to the addition of maple syrup. A hot buttered rum is smoothed out with "nutty, indulgent" melted peanut butter, while the espresso martini is transformed into a rum-based mocha martini with a spoonful of chocolate hazelnut spread. Those seeking nonalcoholic or low-ABV drinks will delight in the fruity vinegar raspberry shrub, as well as the Berliner, a beer and apple soda concoction. For speedy, delicious, and stylish cocktails, these colorful options deserve three cheers. (Oct.)

A short-and-sweet (and sour and refreshing and fruity) cocktail guide here! What this book lacks in length, it more than makes up for in information and techniques. The recipes are quick and easy, but only if one has a decently stocked bar. To that end, the opening pages are packed with recommended glasses and tools, and suggestions for basic spirits, wines, liquors, mixers, and specialty ingredients. Especially helpful are the recipes for homemade syrups, purees, and bitters. The 60 included drinks are divided into simple, everyday cocktails using basic ingredients; shaken or stirred drinks with a specialty addition or two and more complicated beverages involving a bit more preparation and ingredients that might stretch beyond a basic home bar. While one might expect this last category to not quite fit the 60-second claim, assuming all ingredients are on hand, the authors do a great job of simplifying the preparation of some amazing drinks. The sips are also categorized by flavor group and suggested occasion. Recipes are clear and easy to follow, with guidelines for everything from the type of glass to use to how much ice (if any) goes in the drink to garnishes for the finish. VERDICT A great choice for the amateur home bartender either looking to master cocktail basics or to step up their game and make drinks to impress.--Whitney Bates-Gomez