Straight Up: The Insider’s Guide to the World’s Most Famous Spirits and Cocktails by Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley is a practical and entertaining guide to the world of distilled spirits and classic cocktails. Written by award-winning spirits writers and presenters, the book takes readers behind the scenes of the global drinks industry, exploring the history, production, character, and culture of major spirits. It covers categories such as whisky, rum, gin, vodka, tequila, mezcal, brandy, and other notable spirits, explaining how ingredients, distillation methods, maturation, and regional traditions influence what ends up in the glass. Alongside the spirits guide, the book introduces classic cocktails and offers advice on how to taste, select, serve, and mix different drinks. The approachable style makes it useful for newcomers while still providing plenty of information for more experienced spirits enthusiasts. Overall, Straight Up combines spirits education, drinks history, tasting guidance, and cocktail culture into an accessible reference for anyone interested in premium spirits and mixed drinks.