Exploring their mantra of 'Drink Less but Drink Better', the Thinking Drinkers, celebrated drinks journalists Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham, have performed sold-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe and the Soho Theatre in London. This book, inspired by their show, delves into the history and development of alcohol, from early Sumerian beer brewers to famous imbibers such as Van Gogh, Ernest Hemingway, Norm from 'Cheers' and John Wayne to Blackbeard and Dorothy Parker, to name but a few. There are fascinating facts and trivia on subjects such as the 'Three Martini Lunch', the origin of the word 'teetotal' and some frankly weird shenanigans around the subject of absinthe! Chapter topics range from beer and cider to wine, whisky, fruit-based spirits, tequila, vodka, rum and gin, as well as liqueurs. Fun and quirky illustrations highlight celebrated drinks, characters, places in time and the drinks themselves, while McFarland and Sandham bring together the best of their well- informed and hugely entertaining writing in this handsome and covetable volume that is simply an imbiber's delight.

Author Biography

Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham are leading drinks experts, writers and performers. Together they co-founded www.thethinkingdrinkers.com, and they regularly perform, talk and write as The Thinking Drinkers. Ben McFarland has been named the British Guild of Beer Writers' Beer Writer of the Year on three occasions, the first time in 2004 as the youngest ever recipient. He is the author of three books, including World's Best Beers and Boutique Beer for Jacqui Small. Tom Sandham is the successful author of World's Best Cocktails and an expert on all kinds of spirit drinks. Both authors write regularly for a wide range of consumer and specialist magazines, including Jamie Oliver Magazine, The Guardian, Independent on Sunday, The Daily Telegraph, Imbibe, Draft Magazine and Time Out. 2014 will be the third year that the duo have taken their sell-out show to both the Edinburgh Fringe and the Soho Theatre, London.