David A. Embury

David A. Embury

David Augustus Embury (November 3, 1886 in Pine Woods, New York - July 6, 1960 in New Rochelle, New York) was an American attorney and author of The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks (1948), a classic encyclopedia of the 20th century cocktail.

The book is noteworthy for its highly opinionated, very witty and conversational tone, as well as its categorization of cocktails into two types: aromatic and sour, its categorization of ingredients into three: base, modifying agents and special flavoring and coloring agents, and its 1:2:8 ratio (1 part sweet, 2 parts sour, 8 parts base) for sour type cocktails.

In the book, Embury makes it clear that he had "never been engaged in any of the manifold branches of the liquor business" and that his experience was "entirely as a consumer and as a shaker-upper of drinks for the delectation of my guests".[1] The author goes on to say, “On the other hand, I have always possessed an insatiable curiosity about the whys and wherefores of many things and particularly of food and drinks.” [2] Embury’s love of a quality cocktail is evident and his investigation thorough.

The book also contains sections on glassware, bar equipment, a discussion of several different types of bitters, and much other minutiae on the topic. The last edition of the book is now a half-century old, and many of the brands of liquor Embury discusses are no longer made, or, though once common, now almost impossible to find and the occasional price quotes he inserts are also, of course, very much out-of-date. But as an all-around encyclopedia of cocktail making and an "encyclopedia of spirits" in general, it is still regarded as a basic text. All editions of the book command quite high prices from online auction sites and booksellers, as it is long out of print, but considered a "classic".

For many years, Embury was a senior tax partner with the respected Manhattan law firm of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle. He also served as chairman of the National Interfraternity Conference. Embury graduated from Cornell University in 1908 and was a member of Acacia. He even includes in the book a recipe for a cocktail called an "Acacia".

References

  1. ^ Embury, David (1958) [1948]. The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks. illustrated by Nathan Gluck (New rev. ed. ed.). Garden City, N.Y: Doubleday. pp. 9–10. LCC TX951 .E55 1958. 
  2. ^ Reference material on David Embury

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • David and John Jardine — The brothers David (2 July 1840 4 June 1892),[1] John E. (1838 23 June 1920) and George Elliott Jardine (1841 1902) were architects of Scottish nationality, sons of a Scottish architect builder of Whithorn, Wigtownshire;[2] they took up American… …   Wikipedia

  • The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks — is a classic cocktail book by David A. Embury, first published in 1948. The book is noteworthy for its witty, highly opinionated and conversational tone, as well as its categorization of cocktails into two main types: aromatic and sour, its… …   Wikipedia

  • Sidecar (cocktail) — WPMIXInfobox iba = name = Sidecar caption = type = cocktail flaming = brandy = yes served = shaken garnish = Sugared glass, lemon rind drinkware = cocktail ingredients = *One part brandy or Cognac *One part Cointreau *One part lemon juice prep =… …   Wikipedia

  • Old Fashioned — IBA Official Cocktail Type Cocktail Primary alcohol by volume Bourbon whiskey …   Wikipedia

  • Side Car — Ein Sidecar im Cocktailglas mit Zuckerrand und Zitronenscheibe Sidecar ist ein klassischer Cocktail. David A. Embury nennt ihn in seinem Standardwerk „The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks“ (1948) unter seinen sechs Grundcocktails. Er gilt als Abwandlung …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Sidecar (Cocktail) — Ein Sidecar im Cocktailglas mit Zuckerrand und Zitronenscheibe Sidecar ist ein klassischer Cocktail. David A. Embury nennt ihn in seinem Standardwerk „The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks“ (1948) unter seinen sechs Grundcocktails. Er gilt als Abwandlung …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Preterismo — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda El preterismo es una variación de la escatología cristiana que mantiene que algunas o todas las profecías Bíblicas concernientes a los Últimos Días (o Tiempos Finales) se refieren a eventos que en realidad ocurrieron …   Wikipedia Español

  • Jack Rose (cocktail) — WPMIXInfobox name = Jack Rose type = cocktail brandy = yes served = straight garnish = cherry, apple slice drinkware = cocktail ingredients = *3 parts applejack *2 parts lemon or lime juice *2 dashes grenadine prep = Traditionally shaken into a… …   Wikipedia

  • Jack Rose (cocktail) — Jack Rose est le nom d un Long drink, populaire dans les années 1920 et 1930. Il contient de l’applejack, de la grenadine, et du jus de citron ou de lime. Il est mentionné dans l un des romans d’Ernest Hemingway, Le Soleil se lève aussi, dans une …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Jack rose (cocktail) — Jack Rose est le nom d un Long drink, populaire dans les années 1920 et 1930. Il contient de l’applejack, de la grenadine, et du jus de citron ou de lime. Il est mentionné dans l un des romans d’Ernest Hemingway, Le Soleil se lève aussi, dans une …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”