Having heard all the buzz over Lucy Brennan and her fresh-ingredient cocktails, I was excited to burrow into her book and find all kinds of enlightened blends of unusual flavors.

I was disappointed.

The book is beautiful, unusually well-edited and published for the genre. Brennan has a flair for visual impact. Her recipe principles are simple and well-laid out. But...in the end, too simple: a one-note song.

Practically every cocktail in Lucy's book, it seems, includes some basic spirit, one unusual ingredient (or none), a quarter-ounce of her favorite orange liqueur, and 2 oz of (freshly made, at least) sweet-and-sour. There is no thought to blending, to flavor families; no distinction amongst whether lemon or lime or perhaps some other sour base might better set off a particular ingredient, or whether different amounts of sweetness and sour might bring out particular flavors. It seems that it is enough to simply introduce new ingredients to the bar without pursuing their full potential or investigating their possibilities. Not to imply that her drinks are not good, for what they are: it's just that there are many other cocktail books on the market now that offer far more insight, depth, nuance and complexity, and offer far more reward to the curious cocktailer. The Joy of Mixology (Gary Regan) and The Craft of the Cocktail (Dale Degroff) are higly recommendable in Hip Sips' stead. For those with an interest in adding "kitchen" flavors and creativity to their cocktails, On Food and Cooking (Harold McGee) or Culinary Artistry (Andrew Dornenberg and Karen Page) offer an intense introduction that will have you off and running.

At any rate, I wouldn't turn down a copy of Hip Sips if it were offered to me. But with all the other books recently on the market, it just doesn't stand up to the competition in the areas that matter.

As a resident of Portland, OR, I know firsthand the prowess of this author. Let's say that this sweet little book will elevate YOU to high-priestess at your next party. Inventive, easy recipes with normal easily-acquired ingredients! I would downgrade five stars to 4.95 stars only because of the font used through-out because the book, while "hip" and "cool", is very hard to read without proper light and really good eyes. Makes a really good hostess gift, too!

got exactly what i wanted. it is perfect. it even has a clear plastic cover to shield it from mixing mishaps.

I've been waiting for Lucy Brennan to share her secrets of the perfect cocktail and at last it's here! All my favorites from her bar, 820, in Portland. The plastic cover is a nice touch. Highly highly recommended.

Cocktails can mostly be broken into 2 groups -

Syrupy sickening concoctions downed by people in a hurry to get the party started.

Or standards. The drinks we know by heart, reproduced like a jazz standards - anywhere from awful renditions to beautiful artistry.

In Hip Sips authors Lucy Brennan and Carolyn Burleigh find a new path for the cocktail that brings a level of detail normally reserved for kitchen to the bar.

Featuring the drinks that made Brennan's 820 bar the best spot for cocktails in Portland, Oregon. Beets, avocados, and berries take their rightful place a long side the popular citrus fruits. Do it yourself infusions replace flavored alcohols.

The instructions are clear, concise and easy to follow. The introductions are fun to read and the photography beautifully compliments the recipes. If you or someone you know has a love for food