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The book arrived earlier than expected and in perfect condition. It is fun and informative- a great mix of history and recipes. An easy read and easy to follow recipes. Get the book and get your tiki party on.
This is a fantastically instructive and entertaining guide to the history and making of authentic tropical drinks, heavily slanted, of course, to rum-based concoctions. But other than that. If you don't have Berry's earlier books Grog Log, Intoxica, and Taboo Table, (which are conveniently spiral-bound but commanding high prices for the latter two) buy this one first and get those later.
The book is worth the price alone for both the suggestions and the caveats and warnings Berry gives when you go out to purchase the ingredients; his assessments generally agree with my experiences, and can save you some serious dough on poorly conceived and manufactured commercial syrups, liqueurs, and flavorings that have flooded the market.But beyond that, it is simply a fascinating history of the characters, bars, and shenanigans going on behind the scenes when these drinks were being developed and served to a very appreciative clientele, primarily between the 1930's - 1970's. The production values are also much better than in the earlier books.My only regrets are that this is not available in hardback and in spiral-bound soft cover. It has a great up-to-date (2007) review of the currently available flavorings and ingredients necessary to mix these libations.
Sippin' Safari also includes a few drink and "secret mix" recipes which were missing in the earlier books, and the chapter on the infamous Zombie is priceless (complete with a photo of the Zombie-Master himself). The old photos,inserts, and advertisements scattered throughout the book (many in color) are fantastic reminders of a bygone era and make one long to be transported back to a simpler and, perhaps, better time. Although sometimes a bit difficult to follow, it is hard to put this book down once you begin reading it - brimming with great stories and information.I give this gem my most enthusiastic recommendation.
I also wish the rum reviews were more extensive and detailed. Order this book NOW and then go kick back with it and a Zombie while you sit under a Palapa enjoying the Good Life.
Exhaustively researched but far from exhausting to read, Sippin' Safari is simply pure pleasure from cover to cover.Written by the world's foremost expert on exotic mixology and its extremely colorful history, it's just that history which Jeff "Beachbum" Berry so enjoyably chronicles in this small but gorgeously produced volume.Most chapters concentrate on the vivid personal history of someone who had a vital role in the Polynesian Pop restaurant and exotic "tropical" cocktail craze of the late 40's through early 70's (and its current resurgence of popularity). And, as a result, this book is an addictive series of rollicking incredible-but-true adventures punctuated by remarkable drink recipes resurrected from the alcoholic ether by Berry, thanks to his own diligent detective work and the generosity of some of those characters whose lives he covers in such colorful detail.And his chapter of the history of the Zombie is a classic in itself.Reading this tome for the fourth time now, I find that I keep coming back to it the way one keeps returning to a favorite restaurant or watering hole -- once is simply not enough.The only real problem with Jeff's book is that between his mouth-watering descriptions of the full-rainbow-spectrum of delightful drinks on display and the almost pornographically alluring photos of those drinks by the talented Jonpaul Balak, I find myself DYING to sample every luscious libation I encounter. And it drives me NUTS. (But in a GOOD way).Cheers & Bottoms Up.
Great book, pretty much the definitive source on the history of tropical drinks, the people that made and created them as well as famoust tiki venues. Drink recipes contained within are extraordinary. People back then knew how to live. I was born in the wrong era.
I laughed, I cried, I made a Mai Tai.Phil GreeneMuseum of the American Cocktail
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