HAIMO, Oscar "Cocktail and Wine Digest" [1947] Bartender's Guide

HAIMO, Oscar. Cocktail and Wine Digest: Encyclopedia & Guide for Home & Bar.

New York: The International Cocktail, Wine and Spirits Digest, Inc., 1947. 6" x 4", pagination 142pp (complete), illustrated throughout with blue line drawings, diagrams, and decorative title pages. Original red cloth, lettered and decorated in white to front board and spine. Noticeable mottling and discoloration to cloth, most pronounced along spine and upper boards; lettering remains legible. Binding sound. Internally clean, with light, even toning and a few stray marks to preliminaries; no significant wear to text block. Good+.

A compact mid-century bar manual compiled by Oscar Haimo, then president of the International Bar Managers’ Association, presenting a wide-ranging alphabetical compendium of cocktails, mixed drinks, and service notes. Entries include both standard formulas and period variations—Absinthe substitutes reflecting contemporary legal restrictions, alongside classics such as the Alaska, Diplomat, and Dubonnet cocktails—offering a useful snapshot of post-Prohibition American drinking culture. The lively graphic design, with bold blue illustrations of barware and fruit motifs, underscores its intended use as a practical, accessible guide for both professional and home bartenders.