Take away the gift giving, the cheesy music, the elaborate window displays, and a few fleeting days off from work, and what do the holidays leave us with? Well, drinks for one thing, preferably in the company of friends and family, though a couple of entertaining strangers will work in a pinch. The trick is to have the right ingredients to render any gathering sufficiently festive. And therein lies the challenge. Fortunately for party-throwers (and -goers, for that matter), a number of new books on wine, cocktails, and beer can help to provide an edge over the competition. Or at least take the... More >>>