David A. Embury

1886–1960

Wrote the first theoretical work on mixed drinks

David Embury was a tax attorney in New York, and a drinks enthusiast (not a bartender). Embury was the author of “The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks” (1948), the first theoretical work on mixed drinks. The book sold well, and enjoyed various printings over subsequent decades. The book is cited as a key influence by Cocktail Renaissance bartenders such as Dick Bradsell and Audrey Saunders.