The book provides an alphabetically arranged reference to spirits, cocktails and other elements of the bar industry, compiled and edited by David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, with contributions by several writers including Doug Frost, Garrett Oliver and Audrey Saunders.

[2] The work is considered the first reference book on the history and trends of distilled spirits.

[1] Over 150 writers contributed, including bartenders, distillers, historians, spirits journalists, brewers, and anthropologists.

[1] The New York Times reviewed the book in 2021, describing its thorough coverage of "nearly every aspect of its subject matter, from absinthe spoons to maceration to the Zombie".

[2] Aaron Goldfarb, writing for Epicurious in 2021, claimed the book "will answer every question you've ever had about cocktails".