Modern American Drinks 1895 Reprint : How to Mix and Serve All Kinds of Cups and Drinks

What a special book in many ways. Not only does it have five different Absinthe recipes (Straight, California Style, Dripped, Italian Style, and Swiss Style) with a warning never to serve it unless specifically asked due to the injurious qualities of Absinthe, it features an estimated 400 different cocktail recipes!
And if that wasn't enough reason to pique curiosity, this book is claimed to be the first printed mention of TWO drinks, the Old Fashioned and Widow's Kiss.
Rumor has it that the Old Fashioned traveled up from a distiller/promoter in Kentucky to the Waldorf-Astoria around 1880. If this is the case it didn't take long to make it into print.
No fluffy toasts or food recipes in this bartender's guide, just drinks of all kinds to enjoy.
George Kappeler had two different editions of this book with about the same ads (including Anheuser Busch) and drinks that came out in this 1895 edition. The other known cover is used as the back of this book.