Name: Strong, Sweet and Dry: A Guide to Vermouth, Port, Sherry, Madeira and Marsala
Author: Epstein, Becky Sue
ISBN: 9781789141528

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Strong, Sweet and Dry: A Guide to Vermouth, Port, Sherry, Madeira and Marsala

by Becky Sue Epstein

Reaktion Books, 2019
Cloth: 978-1-78914-152-8 | eISBN: 978-1-78914-186-3
Library of Congress Classification TP548.E678 2020
Dewey Decimal Classification 641.2226

ABOUT THIS BOOK | AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY | REVIEWS | TOC | REQUEST ACCESSIBLE FILE

ABOUT THIS BOOK

Today, many fortified wines are flourishing again, revived by discerning drinkers and modern mixologists all over the world. Once popularly savored before or after dinner, fortified wines—vermouth, sherry, port, madeira, and the like—had fallen out of favor until recent times. But now, in pubs and wine bars, high-end restaurants and homes, these wines are finding their way into innovative cocktails, and they are being appreciated anew for their fine qualities and strong, complex tastes.

Strong, Sweet and Dry is the ultimate guide to these freshly rediscovered palate pleasers. In lively style, Becky Sue Epstein explores the latest fortified wine innovations and trends, along with their colorful history, including the merchants, warriors, and kings who helped bring these beverages into being. Featuring a plethora of enticing images, along with anecdotes, facts, and recipes, this is a superb tour through the long history of fortified wines and their global resurgence today.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Becky Sue Epstein is a writer and journalist in the fields of wine, spirits, food, and travel. Her books include Champagne: A Global History and Brandy: A Global History, both also published by Reaktion Books. She lives in Massachusetts.

REVIEWS

"Strong, Sweet and Dry is an extraordinary voyage demystifying the aromatized and fortified wine world, and the timing couldn’t be better. Americans are enjoying the world of port, sherry, vermouth, and Madeira in some cases for the first time in their cocktails! We have officially rediscovered the wet Martini and we have amazing choices for vermouth in our Manhattans. This book needs to be on your reading list.”

— Dale “kingcocktail” DeGroff

“Epstein’s fresh take on these oft-overlooked treasures takes you through the fascinating past, where the origins of vermouth, port, sherry, madeira, and marsala are revealed, traces their contemporary trends, and discusses their modern relevance. Strong, Sweet and Dry is a wonderful read for professionals and passionate connoisseurs alike!”

— Debra Meiburg MW, master of wine & director, Meiburg Wine Media

"The drinks announced in the subtitle of Epstein’s book evoke the arcane charms of the Old World, but have, in recent years, made a comeback among bartenders and mixologists. Epstein narrates their history while also liberating them from the dusty drinks cabinet. A first chapter on vermouth, essential for the now near-ubiquitous negroni—a heady blend of vermouth, aromatics and fortifying spirit (Epstein notes its 'sultry darkness')—prepares the reader for the cocktail of genres that follows: travelogue and history mix with guidance, a glossary (for the more arcane terms of the drinking arts), and recommended reading. . . . The succinct battery of cocktail recipes at the end of the book . . . [features] unfussy preparations that showcase the wines’ varied characters."

— Times Literary Supplement

"What do Vermouth, Port, Sherry, Madeira, and Marsala wines have in common? They are all fortified wines (the 'strong' part of the book title). You probably have bottles of several if not all of them stashed away somewhere in the back of the wine closet, although you might not have thought about them in a while. And they are all delicious. Time you brought them out of the closet and onto the table where they belong! Epstein's entertaining and informative new book is just the nudge you need to do it. . . . Strong, Sweet and Dry inspired us and I think it will inspire you to try something new that's also something old. Highly recommended."

— Wine Economist

"Y’all, it’s been a year for our dads. March Madness, baseball, and just life in general have been canceled thanks to COVID-19. But you know what’s not canceled? Father’s Day. That’s right, to help y’all celebrate this Sunday, we’ve rounded up a list of luxurious bar cart items to gift Dad. Why stuff for the bar cart? Because, after being stuck at home with us for months, Dad just needs a drink. It’s been a year. . . . Ever wondered the difference between a vermouth and a sherry and when you should be drinking them? Refine Dad’s palate—and your own—and learn about fortified wines (plus, cocktail recipes!) with this new book by Epstein."

— Houstonia Magazine

"Sip, sip, hooray, for a new book on some overlooked stars of the drinks world. . . . Strong, Sweet and Dry delves into the complex history of these aromatic fortified wines and makes a case for the current revival among mixologists. This is a serious book, crammed with facts, but it's clearly written, with some intriguing glimpses into the past, plus there's a section on cocktails for getting more out of these vinous gems."

— Delicious Magazine

Shortlisted

— Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards 2020: Drink Book Category

— Choice

"Epstein has the ability to dig deep into the background and culture of drinks from around the world, bringing out snippets of information that evade many other writers. She dips briefly into the history of her fortified wine topics, but rather than get weighed down with how things were in the past, she is more interested in the current status of the wines. She weaves methods of winemaking, grape varieties, and ageing into an easily digested format, bring out the directions of each industry as it adapts to changing markets. She then rounds off with a selection of cocktail recipes that adds another dimension to the enjoyment of these wines."

— Yorkshire Post

"Epstein, a wine commentator of huge experience, pulls on a robust pair of cracked leather hiking boots and strides gamely into this great historical sweep. As a guide she’s engaging. . . . In many ways a fascinating book. . . . You’ll find all you need to know about an increasingly fashionable family of wines."

— Club Oenologique

Won

— The Readable Feast Award 2020: Wine, Beer, Spirits

"Epstein takes her readers on a memorable adventure into villages and around the countryside in Spain, France, Sicily, and Cyrus (among other places), weaving the tales of these spirits through history while illuminating producers’ techniques and the flavor profiles of individual spirits. Epstein’s book contains cocktail recipes, too, so here’s a gift you could give anyone."

— Martha's Vineyard Magazine

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover

Title Page

Imprint Page

Contents

Introduction

1: Vermouth

2: Port

3: Sherry

4: Madeira

5: Marsala

6: Vin Doux Naturel

7: Worldwide Fortified Wines

Cocktail Recipes

Glossary

Bibliography

Acknowledgements

Photo Acknowledgements

Index

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