For ten thousand years, people have been perfecting the production of alcoholic beverages, but only relatively recently have scientists begun to use scientific advances to create their ideal composition. On a vibrant tour across cultures and continents, Adam Rogers takes us to the world's leading laboratories, bars and drinking establishments where the science of drinking is being perfected. The author describes the physical, biological and chemical basis of the ideal drink, focusing specifically on the psychological and neurobiological processes that provoke the desire to sip a glass. If you've ever wondered what happens to a spirit before you open the bottle and what reactions it triggers in your body, At the Bar is your essential companion, an incomparable complement to fine drinks.