Shake. Stir. Sip. really is a guide to delicious, effortless cocktails.

Shake. Stir. Sip. More than 50 Effortless Cocktails Made in Equal Parts is a new book by Kara Newman. Kara is the spirits editor for Wine Enthusiast magazine and writes about spirits and cocktails for a number of other publications. She also authored Cocktails for a Crowd. Shake. Stir. Sip sells for $16.95.

That old song is correct, one is the loneliest number. No matter how strong, self-sufficient and intrepid we are, almost everything is more enjoyable when we have a partner. Add two or more people and you have a party!

The same goes for spirits. One spirit in a glass is all business. I don’t care how complex and well-made the spirit is. A shot is punctuation, not conversation. Add another one or two spirits to the mix and now you’re talking.

In Shake. Stir. Sip., Kara Newman talks to us about the form of cocktail which is easiest to replicate at home, the equal-parts cocktail. These are cocktails in which all ingredients are in equal proportion (eg. one ounce each of three different spirits). It’s impossible to get confused.

But simple to make does not mean simple on the palate. Effortless doesn’t mean flavorless or spineless. These are timeless classics, riffs on timeless classics, interesting multinational concoctions and punches with punch.

The book is written in a clear, but friendly, tone. It’s as easy to read as the cocktails are to make, and vice versa. The organization is excellent, starting with the basics of key spirits and tools, then covering two-ingredient cocktails before moving to three-, four- and finally five-ingredient drinks. Whether you are making cocktails as you go through the book or simply reading it, the progression is logical and ensures only cocktails—not you—will get mixed up.

Shake. Stir. Sip. is not written for bartenders, let alone “mixologists.” It doesn’t call for hard-to-find ingredients, carefully honed technique or lengthy prep times. It’s written for you and me, people who enjoy cocktails and want to make good ones at home. It’s for people who want happy friends and great parties. (A number of the cocktail recipes include notes for pre-making them in large batches, so you don’t have to choose between entertaining your guests and delighting their taste buds.)

The book includes more than standard recipes. It explains the history of some cocktails. For others, it offers variants created by well-known bartenders. This makes for enjoyable reading and provides you not just with cocktails, but cocktail conversation.

In Sip. Stir. Sip., we learn the Americano, a mix of Campari and sweet vermouth, was created in  Italy, but the Italian-sounding Vespucci is a variant created in America. We learn how to Rob Roy, make a Dandy Cocktail and ensure there’s plenty of Hanky Panky. And Kara Newman’s straightforward approach to cocktails gives us the confidence to create adaptations based on our favorite ingredients (or what we have on hand).

The 123-page book reads quickly. It is well-organized, well-indexed and small enough to be handy at the home bar. Since the book is printed on good stock and an appetizing photograph accompanies each primary cocktail, you might also want to leave it on the coffee table.

Enjoy Shake. Stir. Sip.  I’m off to make an Old Pal.