Rocky Fino Shows the Power and Pleasure of Cocktails

Rocky Fino, author of "Will Cook for Sex," explores the power of the cocktail in "Will Mix for Sex: Twenty-One Classic Cocktails to Set the Mood" through antidotes and recipes, as he did in his first book.*

Fino has been touring the country at Food Network festivals and cooking seminars promoting his ideas about the relationship between what you serve in a cocktail glass and then type of woman you are dating. The Southern Californian believes it is all about the importance women give to "The Mood" and the guy's responsibility to create it. Of course, this book could just as easily fit the other way around as there are plenty of women trying to create that mood for men in their life.

"Will Mix for Sex" is a pocked sized book that starts out simple enough with the basics that you need to have on hand if you want to make great drinks - a blender, glasses, a strainer and a shot glass. He also explain the terms so that he doesn't have to be so detailed later on ("Top-Gently pour over the top of the drink."). He then goes on to divide the types of drinks you should serve a date into five categories, with explanations, helpful hints and variations to standard cocktails offered throughout.

According to Rocky Fino:

The Sweet Girl likes drinks such as the Cosmopolitan, Pink Lady or Grasshopper;

The Tart Girl enjoys cocktails such as the Lemon Drop, Vodka Collins or Tequila Sunrise;

The Classy Girl will want a Highball, Mimosa or Brandy Alexander;

The Sunny Girl is always ready for the beach with a Mai Tai, Pina Colada or Margarita in hand;

The Guy's Girl can relish a Manhattan, Gimlet, or even a beer, but he warns that it must be good lager, and served in a chilled pint glass.

Fino does not need to worry about satisfying his date as he's already married with kids. They now live in Northern California so wine has become as much a focus in his life as cocktails.

A conversation with Fino reveals that he believes choosing wine is just as important to your dating life as picking which cocktail to make, "There is no particular style or brand of wine that serves best with every meal," he says, "but I like to choose from smaller boutique wines that provide a story behind the bottle. That story enhances the experience, and is a better conversation than pompous wine tasting jargon."

"Will Mix for Sex" is published by Stephens Press.