From the James Beard Award-winning author of

Bitters comes this funny, often elegiac exploration of the question, what is the last thing you'd want to drink before you die? with bartender profiles, portraits, and 50 cocktail recipes.

Everyone knows the parlor game question asked of every chef and food personality in countless interviews: What is the last meal you'd want to eat before you die? But what does it look like when you pose the equivalent question to bartenders? Last Call gathers the intriguing responses from a diverse range of top bartenders around the country including Graham Miller at Musso & Frank Grill in Los Angeles (he chooses an Old-Fashioned), Joseph Stinchcomb at Saint Leo in Oxford, Mississippi (he picks The Last Word, a prohibition-era cocktail that's now a cult favorite), and Natasha David at Nightcap in New York City (she exits the earth sipping a Margarita). The resulting interviews and essays reveal a personal portrait of the country's best bartenders and their favorite drinks, while 50 cocktail recipes and stunning photography make this a keepsake for barflies and cocktail enthusiasts of all stripes.