Sadly, the establishment is now permanently closed. I think this book probably has the best recipes for classics and modern classics out there. Booze & Vinyl is the how-to-host-a-booze-listening-session guide, with 70 albums organized by genre (rock, chill, dance, etc. Regardless of whether or not rum is your spirit of choice, And a Bottle of Rum offers just the right balance of history, entertainment, and booze, making it an engaging read for all spirits lovers and history buffs. So we asked the pros for their best recommendations. It's not for beginners with a low-stocked liquor cabinet, though it may inspire you to grow your bottle collection. Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. This collection of cocktail recipes from New York's Employees Only set the stage for a rapidly growing trend of bars publishing recipe books. This requires a whole different approach to technique and "Liquid Intelligence" was the perfect resource to help us make our drink-making game stronger. And the stunning art deco illustrations in the hardcover reprint shall set the 1920s mood. Today's landscape is far more informed. When I was first introduced to the world of craft cocktails almost a decade ago, information was still scarce, so it was helpful when my guides spoke unanimously about the necessary books to seek out. Gupreet Singh, co-owner and bar manager at Sunday to Sunday in New York City, NY, "The Flavor Bible" by Andrew Dornenburg and Karen A. Its written by Nick Coldicott, a long-time Tokyo resident and aficionado of its cocktail scene. Ever wondered what the heck gentian was? If you're a beginner looking to get into professional bartending or mixing great drinks at home, and you're only going to acquire one book on this list, make it Gary Regan's The Joy of Mixology. The authors structure it like a textbook and center on the six root recipes that all cocktails derive from: Old-fashioned, martini, daiquiri, sidecar, whisky highball, and flip. Affectionately referred to as the Historical Oracle, David stays up waaaay past last call to research the nitty-gritty of cocktail and spirits history. For this reason alone, it's still a must-read. Ever wanted to impress your friends by knowing that the compound erroneously feared in Wormwood to cause hallucinations is called thujone? Ask a Bartender: What's Your Favorite Modern Cocktail Book? Lynn House, "The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks" by David A. Embury, Robert Hess, and Audrey Saunders, $39.95, available at Amazon. Also, nice to flip through with beautiful imagery. This homage to cocktails of the 1920's and '30s was written by Harry Craddock, an Englishman who learned the art of mixing in the States before moving back to London during Prohibition to be the head bartender at one of the most influential cocktail bars of all timeThe Savoy Hotel. Read all three to get a good understanding for how the movement re-started and get comfortable mixing drinks in your home bar. When I was just starting to build a home bar, Speakeasy was one of the most approachable and fun cocktail books I played around with. In addition, it helps readers think outside the box to create new drinks and explains everything clearly and logically. Most of them still offer cocktail recipes, so you can mix up a cold one while you enjoy a few tall tales. Yes, it is dense with science facts and fancy equipment that I don't own, but a girl can dream, right? Romantic night?). Wilson gets a little snarky and insider-y at times, but that's part of what makes the book so engaging. Most feature great recipes and are just as iconic and essential as the aforementioned picks. Really cool book to find in secondhand book stores and thrift shops. We may earn a commission from these links. Each chapter addresses a period in history paired with a rum cocktail that was popular at the time, providing insight into the development of American culture but also the history of these popular drinks. Renowned bartender Jeffrey Morgenthaler believes that in order to turn your drinking palate into a semi-reputable career path, start small in the pantry before finally upsizing your cabinetbecause techniques matter more than how many drinks you can stir up, especially if they're not awesome. The Drunken Botanist: The Plants That Create the Worlds Great Drinks explores the botanical history and science behind the flowers, fruits, and trees that have made their way into our beverageswhether as a production staple or a fun experiment. This is a great place to get started with all of the fundamentals. "If you're able to use books for inspiration for a foundational drink, you can always build on the experience from there," said Wael Deek, the beverage director at Alice and Osteria 57in New York City. Everyone has their own falling in love with cocktails story. Deke Dunne, head bartender and beverage director at Allegory in Washington, D.C. "Cocktail Codex" by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, and David Kaplan, $21.49, available at Amazon, It really goes a bit deeper into the theory of cocktail categories. The final five books on our list are ones that capture a specific moment in time at a particular cocktail bar or cover a certain niche subject within the broad world of drinks. Drew Pompa, At first, "Liquid Intelligence" might feel like you just purchased a college science book; however, I pick it up over and over again when I have a question or searching for inspiration. Its also a manual on how to drinkup versus on the rocks, shaken versus stirred, in a highball versus lowballat what occasion (Bar? Wondrich's wit is electric as he digs through dense history, presenting wild and wondrous tales with authority. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, The Hands-Down Best Tequila Brands in 2022, 3 Cocktails Thatll Transport You to Bermuda, Chef Richard Blais Creates Rum-Infused Recipes, 30 Best Gifts for Serious Whiskey Drinkers, 15 Wine Subscription Boxes That Suit Every Palate, The Hands-Down Best Single Malt Scotch to Drink, The Best Scotch Cocktails To Serve On Father's Day, Shop Whiskey Peaks Glassware Deals on Huckberry, The 16 Best Alcohol Subscription Boxes of 2022, 16 Best Cocktail Books to Add to Your Bar Cart in 2022, BY ALEX DAY, NICK FAUCHALD, AND DAVID KAPLAN, By Sean Muldoon, Jack McGarry, and Jillian Vose, Get Unlimited Access to Esquire's Cocktail Coverage. The downside is that all those options can be a little overwhelming. This book is essential for everyone who loves a great cocktail. Rob Krueger, master mixologist at The Loyal in New York City, NY, "Drinking Like Ladies" by Misty Malkofen and Kirsten Amann, $16.47, available at Amazon. Party? Today's list features historic and modern classics, all released before 2014. Robert Kidd, the head bartender of Wilmington, Deleware brasserie Le Cavalier at Hotel du Pont , told Insider Reviews, "I think it's important that the public and the professionals invest more in books. This cocktail book takes a fun and whimsical approach to making cocktails. To start, considering reading some cocktail books written by actual bartenders that'll teach you both the techniques and hundreds of recipes. "King Cocktail" is credited with being one of the first bartenders to revive the art of vintage craft cocktails at the Rainbow Room in the late 90's, and his two books on the subject hold up as fundamental must-reads that offer practical insight into how bartenders approached cocktail-making a good 15 years ago. The Bar-Tenders Guide, or How To Mix Drinks by Jerry Thomas, The Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock, The Essential Cocktail: The Art Of Mixing Perfect Drinks by Dale Degroff, The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails by David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, Imbibe! It is my go-to tool when charged with designing a new cocktail list or anything bespoke. Focused on seasonality, Bridget Albert embraces the garden-to-glass approach to making great cocktails. Stephanie O'Neill, head bartender at Antique Bar & Bakery in Hoboken, NJ, "The Savoy Cocktail Book" by Harry Craddock, $18.93, available at Amazon, My favorite cocktail book is the vintage book called "The Savoy" written by Harry Craddock during his tenure as the barman at the Savoy Hotel, where he goes on to document London high society of the 1930s. Tara Downs, "Meehan's Bartender Manual" by Jim Meehan, $25.99, available at Amazon, The page corners of my copy of "Meehan's Manual" are worn from turning and I have spilled more than one cocktail and coffee inside. Cocktail books teach you the basics of cocktail making while giving you an appreciation for the science, history, and artistry of the craft. This volume situates modern drinks and drinking culture in personal history. It marked the end of an era, but the man behind the Nomad bar scene, Leo Robitschek, actually published a book on more than 300 recipes there, with NoMads own philosophy on cocktail making included to change the way you see and use spirits. Johnny Swet, founding partner and master mixologist at JIMMY in New York City, NY, "Imbibe!" Get honest reviews on top products & services delivered weekly to your inbox. Get fresh recipes, cooking tips, deal alerts, and more! Meehans Manual is simply that, a wealth of bar knowledge written by the award-winning bartender himself. Stewart opens up the world of booze and cocktails by diving deep into the botanical and horticultural nuances that make up all of the tasty things we love to imbibe. This cocktail book is actually a graphic novel. In general, the pages and creativity are captivating but it's also informative for a restaurant that features wine-based cocktails when we're always looking to push ourselves to create new techniques and presentations. Since Mud Puddle Publishing released the first reprint of the work in 2008, Cocktail Kingdom has released a more substantial version. Flipping through the first known cocktail book printed before Prohibition is like stepping back in time, and it's remarkable just how serious and impressive America's cocktail options were during the golden age. If theres a so-called definitive guide to cocktails, this is it. "The Bar Book" is one of my favorite foundational resources. In this book, you learn how to take your favorite recipes and adjust the recipes as to what is available either in your garden or at your local farmer's market. Amazing drawings and cocktail recipes we still use today. It's a hefty, thorough (albeit photo-less) guide to the methods and madness bartenders must adopt to be successful in the business that includes a brief history of the mixed drink, helpful tools and glassware, and most importantly, a breakdown of drink families. These are the books that helped them develop their knowledge the ones they still reach for when they need a refresher on mixology concepts or inspiration for an original recipe. His seminal work, "Imbibe," changed the world of cocktail writing in the 21st century and unraveled what is thought to be the original cocktail guide, "The Bon Vivant's Companion" by Jerry Thomas. Gary Regan was one of the most influential characters in modern-day mixology. This former Washington Post spirits columnist brings a more journalistic style of storytelling to the table with Boozehound, a recollection of his adventures in drinks reporting. Charles Joly, "The Aviary Cocktail Book" by Nick Kokonas, Allen Hemberger, and Grant Achatz, $85, available at Amazon, "The Aviary Cocktail Book" is not only beautiful but from one of the most innovative chefs and creators in the industry. This book was a labor of love for him and that will be immediately apparent to the reader. You can have all of the equipment and glassware you want but if you don't have a fundamental understanding of how flavors work and interact with each other you can only go so far. What makes Katana Kittenand Master Urushidospecial is the way they infuse Japanese cocktail-making art with American comfort bites that'll have you musing on the lines of "I can easily devour this" and "This needs to be savored". You'll dive into some good texts with great photography, and get using bartending kits and mixing drinks under your belts before you finally stock up your home bar. Don't judge a bookeven a cocktail bookby its cover. His hospitality and cocktails charmed the world. In this captivating read, Curtis smartly weaves tales of American history and culture via the lens of rum from colonial times to when the book was published in 2006. Not everyone has the opportunity to travel and report on drinks, so why not live vicariously through this book? These essentials hail from notable bartending personalities responsible for helping usher in the modern cocktail revolution. There's also beautiful photography to boot, and the break-down of generational cocktail techniques that'll get you wonderstruck on "Oh so this is how that works". Weve rounded up 16 best cocktail books thatll really teach you how, no matter if you're a mixologist who already knows how many corpse revivers there are, or a budding barkeep who've just discovered the ramos gin fizz. They are great for beginners because when combined, they establish a solid baseline of technique and recipes both modern and vintage.