As a bartender and as an author of a cocktail book I have always been curious about the history of the trade. Recent trends in bartending have exposed a great deal of research, both in liquid and book form, about the ancient (pre-Prohibition) figures and recipes, but very little has been written about the post-Prohibition history of bartending. A friend and I are trying to write such a history and without a doubt, both the book and movie Cocktail are intriguing cultural touchstones in bartending’s evolution.

If you had the timeI was hoping I might be able to email you a few questions about the inspiration and actions in the novel, in order to place it within a historical context. Thank you.

Eben Klemm