This book has a lot of (often repetitive & overlapping) history to fill in the time period when the cocktail was in fashion. A better read is A History of the World in 6 Glasses, which worked better to show the influence of six specific beverages on Western history and society.
The most helpful chapters are the last 2: A Thumbnail Guide to Rum & When It‘s Cocktail Time. Overall, disappointing. But at least it‘s off my shelf!
Book 4 for #20in4