Spirits, Sugar, Water, Bitters (2019)

Brown and Yule trace the American cocktail from its roots in revolutionary colonial taverns through to its role as an instrument of twentieth-century cultural diplomacy. By anchoring each chapter to a pivotal historical era, the authors demonstrate how westward expansion, industrial ice harvesting, and diplomatic statecraft turned regional mixed drinks into global icons. It offers a stylish and perceptive history of how American soft power was poured into a cocktail glass.