The Martini: Perfection in a Glass

Why It Made The List A sharp little love letter to the martini, written by Matt Hranek with the stylish, obsessive eye you’d expect from one of New York's most celebrated tastemakers. It traces the drink’s nineteenth-century origins, then gets into the details that actually matter: gin, vermouth, garnish, glassware, equipment, and the eternal shake-or-stir question. There are 35 variations inside, mixing Hranek’s own takes with bartender recipes from around the world and the classics every martini person should know. Illustrated, compact and full of old-school cocktail energy, it’s a brilliant gift for anyone who takes the first drink of the evening seriously. More on WM BROWN