WE DO OUR best to pay attention when our favorite bartender is mixing up our favorite cocktail, but the room's buzz, our companion's boyfriend crisis, and the four drinks we've already downed tend to contribute to a mild case of nightlife ADD. And while we love poring over cocktail books for inspiration, there's only so much we can internalize without a live demonstration. Luckily we've found a solution: Modern Mixology: Making Great Cocktails at Home, a how-to DVD starring award-winning mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim. From behind a swanky bar laden with juicers, shakers, and shiny accessories, Abou-Ganim begins with the basics: outfitting your home bar - with a lesson on how to use those good-looking gadgets - and the importance of the garnish in a well-made cocktail. From there, he delves into instructions on mixing up a variety of drinks; he's marked some classics with his personal stamp (including the Pisco Sour, the Negroni, and the Champagne Cocktail), and others are originals. He stirs in a bit of cocktail lore, too, and offers instructions on selecting the proper glassware, choosing the right ingredients, and achieving perfect presentation. Nothing about Abou-Ganim's advice is out there or unapproachable, and he has the upbeat, insightful attitude of a bartender you'd absolutely trust with your evening. The DVD closes with an easy-to-navigate list of cocktail recipes for all the drinks discussed on the disc. Order a copy for $19.95 at www.modernmixologydvd.com.
