An Authoritative, historically informed tribute to the punch bowl, by the James Beard Award-winning author of Imbibe! Acclaimed cocktail expert and historian David Wondrich takes readers on a raucous guided tour of all things punch-a tour that starts with some very lonely British sailors and swells to include a cast of lords and ladies, admirals, kings, presidents, poets, pirates, novelists, spies, and other inimitable characters. And of course, authentic recipes appear throughout, with notes for the modern punch-maker. It is a tale only Wondrich can tell-and it is sure to delight, inform, and inspire the mixologist in everyone who reads it, from veteran drink connoisseurs to absolute beginners.