It's said that gin oiled the wheels of the British Empire; it boasts an aristocratic reputation and a glorious history. The traditional drink of Russia and Eastern Europe, vodka has a more earthy past, adding the punch of alcohol without imparting noticeable taste. For most drinkers, they remain the fortified backbone for an expansive array of popular cocktails. These recipes for some 33 of the best gin and vodka cocktails, range from such basics as the Bloody Mary and the world's most popular cocktail, the Martini, to the Black Marble, Volga Boatman and the Scotch Frog. Nearly 50 color photographs illuminate the text, along with the fascinating history and legends surrounding these "silver queens" of the beverage world.
