The world of cocktails can be daunting at first, but as Adam McDowell demonstrates in this collection of his Happy Hour columns from the National Post, it's surprisingly easy once you give it a shake.

Recent years have seen a flourishing of avant-garde cocktails in bars and restaurants, but the most enjoyable way to build your cocktail appreciation is to make the classics at home. This illustrated book shows you how to faithfully reproduce the old standards, from fun refreshers like the Singapore sling to the serious business of Sazeracs.