David’s latest book Punch: The Delights (and Dangers) of the Flowing Bowl, An Anecdotal History of the Original Monarch of Mixed Drinks, With More than Forty Historic Recipes, Fully Annotated, and a Complete Course in the Lost Art of Compounding Punch” is about to drop.
Itself a spinoff of his game-changing Imbibe! book, this new book promises to be equally fascinating.
You can order it here, amongst other places. And you should. In fact, you should probably order multiple copies, because this book will make a nice holiday gift for any of your family and friends who are literate, if you still have any. Even if they aren’t literate, they will probably still enjoy making the recipes within. Moreover, if you give them the book early, perhaps they’ll even make punch for you at the next drearily obligatory gathering? Wouldn’t that be nice?
While you wait, you can read Frank Bruni’s piece in the NY Times.
I've not only read the galleys to this book, I've also stolen lots of info from it already and presented same at an event held by Courvoisier at the London Bar Show. I urge everyone to do exactly as Martin advises. Order multiple copies immediately. It's another fabulous piece of work from the Wondrich man. (You owe me a drink, Dave . . .)
Dave,
Where can I score Ambergris?
While Ambergris has long been difficult, if not impossible, to find/purchase, recently I was made aware of a possible source, here:
http://ambergris.co.nz/
And for a little more details about Ambergris, here is a little writeup that our own Ted "Dr. Cocktail" Haigh wrote several years ago:
http://www.netstrider.com/documents/ambergris/miscellany/
-Robert
Many thanks Mr. Hess. I will confirm or deny the viability of this source when my parcel arrives...
Doc's write-up is a must read! My head is spinning from archaic measurement conversions...
Robert--
That's where I get my ambergris from. I've found them to be quick and reliable. Ambergris itself, not so much.
Oh the Bartender is just like a mother to me / And I am his favorite child. --Slim Gaillard
Oh, and thanks, gaz--I owe you a drink!
"A" drink? "A few score drinks" is more appropriate, methinks.
David,
Are you saying that the consistency of the product is variable? Also, twenty dollars a gram is a pretty penny, how much mileage will you get out of the stuff?
Actually, more that it's tricky to use and very hard to incorporate, and that its peculiar fragrance comes through fine sometimes and not at all others, even though you seem to be using roughly the same (tiny) amount.
20$ a gram! I got into cocktails for the cheap drugs! crazy
Imbibe changed my life. Can't wait to get the Punch Book( despite what DeVoto says about them)