The perfect way to spend an afternoon! When the occasion calls for a drink, but not getting drunk, mix up a batch of day drinks-creative, low-alcohol cocktails that are festive, delicious, and easy on the booze. Using beer, wine, cider, sake, sherry, and vermouth, plus a variety of amari and other liqueurs, here are 50 light drinks for hot days, warm drinks for cool days, and an abundance of classic-and reimagined-spritzers, sangrias, micheladas, and so much more. The great thing about learning how to make drinks, as compared with learning how to cook, is that the tools of the trade are relatively inexpensive. Sure, you can score a pricey Japanese gold cocktail shaker on a website like Cocktail Kingdom, but you really don't need one. Which is what I love about drinks. Unlike food (which, come on, I love, too!), where you need at least a set of pots and pans and basic utensils for the process, you can pretty much mix up a drink with a cup and a spoon. Herein you'll find a guide to the implements, intoxicants, and pantry items that will help you create the concoctions in this book. If you don't have everything on the list, don't sweat it. Again, most any cocktail can be improvised with common kitchen equipment. Tools and Equipment Any craft requires tools and following is a list of gadgets that are helpful in building the drinks in this book. Some will sound familiar, while others may seem obscure. None is absolutely make-or-break essential, but they'll certainly come in handy. CONTENTS Introduction Cocktail Basics Bar Tools, Equipment, and Useful Ingredients Summer Lovin' Light Drinks for Hot Days But First, A Cocktail Classic and Creative Apertifs Warm Me Up Spiked Coffees, Toddies, and Other Hot Drinks Grouplove Party-Friendly Potations Wildcard Cocktails Unexpected Liquors to Taste and Explore Buzz-Free Beverages Mocktails in Which You Don't Miss the Booze Conversion Tables Index