Brad Thomas Parsons is the author of Bitters (which was the winner of the James Beard and IACP Cookbook Awards, and a finalist for the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards), Amaro, andDistillery Cats.He received an MFA in writing from Columbia University, and his work has appeared in Bon Appetit, Lucky Peach, Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, PUNCH, and more. He lives in Brooklyn.
“It comes off as charming, in large part thanks to Mr. Parsons’s
understated and often witty writing. From this simple idea, Mr.
Parsons has assembled a collection of interviews that touch not
only on last drinks, but also reflect knowingly on bar culture,
regulars and much more. . . . It’s a worthy read, and makes the
idea of ‘closing time’ seem rather more poignant.”—The Wall Street
Journal
“Brad Thomas Parsons brilliantly takes us behind the scenes in this
insider’s visit with bartenders across the country, who disclose
what they’d choose as their last libation. Not only do they share
their thoughts, they also give us a taste of their favorite
cocktails with a host of inspiring recipes that anyone can shake or
stir up at home. You’ll savor every sip of this spirited look at
what goes on behind the bar—from small-town dives to big-city
speakeasies—when closing time finally arrives.”—David Lebovitz,
author of My Paris Kitchen and Drinking French
“This book is brimming with great recipes, but Last Call reminds
us, with intimacy and warmth, that stories and the people who tell
them are the very best portion of bar life.”—Rosie Schaap, author
of Drinking with Men
“With the constant companionship of bartenders along the way, Brad
Thomas Parsons takes us on a tour of some of the country’s finest
establishments in a somber yet seductive celebration of that
hard-earned final moment of reflection, often paired with the
perfect tune and a flawlessly poured drink in hand.”—Charlie Hall,
drummer, The War on Drugs
“Brad Thomas Parsons’ Last Call is a glorious multi-tool of a book.
Its profusion of smart cocktail recipes makes it invaluable behind
the bar—or tucked into your suitcase, as it’s also a supreme travel
guide to some of the finest saloons in America, a treasure map for
late-night explorers. It’s also, sublimely, a gravelly disquisition
on life, death, pleasure, and what it all means. Parsons has become
our preeminent thinker-drinker—our best surveyor of that heady,
complex zone where liquid spirits meet the human spirit.”—Jonathan
Miles, author of Dear American Airlines and Anatomy of a
Miracle
“A thoughtful and enjoyable book that will delight cocktail
aficionados and lovers of bars alike.”—Library Journal
“Cocktail books typically lean in the direction of fun and
entertainment—and while the latest book from Parsons certainly
doesn’t skip out on the good times, he strikes a tone more elegiac
with Last Call, asking bartenders heavy questions about
mortality and legacy. In twenty-three cities across the country,
Parsons inquires about what their final drink would be—and the
question opens a wider discussion into bar rituals, cocktail
culture, and the inherent appeal of these welcoming rooms in the
wee hours of the night.”—Imbibe
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