Finding the best craft cocktail book suitable for your needs isnt easy. With hundreds of choices can distract you. Knowing whats bad and whats good can be something of a minefield. In this article, weve done the hard work for you.
Reviews
1. Mezcal: The History, Craft & Cocktails of the World's Ultimate Artisanal Spirit
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Produced in Mexico for centuries but little known elsewhere until recent years, mezcal has captured the imagination of spirits enthusiasts with its astonishing complexities. And while big liquor is beginning to jump aboard the bandwagon, most mezcal is still artisanal in nature, produced using small-batch techniques handed down for generations, often with agave plants harvested in the wild.
??Join author Emma Janzen throughMezcal as she presents an engaging primer on all things related to the spirit;its long history, the craft of distilling it, and a thorough guide to many of the most common agaves used in production and how they shape the resulting spirit. In addition, top mezcal bars across the United States and Mexico contribute a selection of nearly fifty cocktails that accentuate its distinguishing qualities.
Beautifully produced and authoritatively written, Mezcal is the definitive guide to exploring and unraveling the mysteries of this extraordinary handcrafted spirit. An Editors Pick for Amazon Best Books of the month of July 2017.
2. Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails
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Death Co Modern Classic CocktailsDescription
The definitive guide to the contemporary craft cocktail movement, from one of the highest-profile, most critically lauded, and influential bars in the world.Death & Co is the most important, influential, and oft-imitated barto emerge from the contemporary craft cocktail movement. Since its opening in 2006, Death &Co has been a must-visit destination for serious drinkers and cocktail enthusiasts, andthe winner of every major industry awardincluding Americas Best Cocktail Bar and Best Cocktail Menu at the Tales of the Cocktail convention. Boasting a supremelytalented and creative bar staffthe best in the industryDeath & Co is also the birthplace of some of the modern eras most iconic drinks, such as the OaxacaOld-Fashioned, Naked and Famous, and the Conference.
Destined to become a definitive reference on craft cocktails,Death & Cofeaturesmore than 500 of the bars most innovative and sought-after cocktails. But morethan just a collection of recipes,Death & Cois also a complete cocktail education, with information on the theory and philosophy of drink making, a complete guideto buying and using spirits, and step-by-step instructions for mastering key bartendingtechniques. Filled with beautiful, evocative photography; illustrative charts and infographics; and colorful essays about the characters who fill the bar each night;Death & Colike its namesake baris bold, elegant, and setting the pace for mixologists around the world.
3. The Craft Cocktail Party: Delicious Drinks for Every Occasion
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The Craft Cocktail Party Delicious Drinks for Every OccasionDescription
4. The New Cocktail Hour: The Essential Guide to Hand-Crafted Drinks
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The New Cocktail Hour The Essential Guide to Hand Crafted DrinksDescription
ENTERTAIN WITH STYLE AND FRESHNESS!Libation-loving siblings Andr and Tenaya Darlington show you how to make cocktails from every era, reimagined for a contemporary palate. Dial back the sugar, and load up on quality ingredients. The New Cocktail Hour shows you how to mix incredible craft cocktails and gives you a complete history of classic recipes and spirits. You've never seen a cocktail book like this before! Unique features include:
214 vintage and modern recipes, complete with tasting notes
Tips on pairing cocktails with everything from pizza to oysters
Suggested brands for building a well-stocked bar
Seasonal ideas for syrups, shrubs, and garden-to-glass drinks
Advice for hosting craft cocktails parties at home
5. The Classic & Craft Cocktail Recipe Book: The Definitive Guide to Mixing Perfect Cocktails from Aviation to Zombie
Description
This is a great book for professionals and amateurs alike who want to explore the world of craft cocktails and grow their mixology knowledge.
Doug Dalton, Co-Owner of Futurebars Inc. (Bourbon & Branch, Swig, Local Edition, and Rickhouse in San Francisco, CA)
Whether youre hosting friends or unwinding after the workday, making gratifying, high-quality cocktails at home is a skill worth having. And like any good skill, it requires expert, up-to-date guidance.
Clair McLafferty has been on both sides of the bar. Shes studied the art of cocktail making. Shes made the drinks herself. And after writing about everything from the science of aging whiskey to common behind-the-bar injuries, she knows how useful a solid cocktail recipe book can truly be. Today, Clairs on a mission to make craft cocktails accessible to everyoneand with The Classic & Craft Cocktail Recipe Book, shes doing exactly that.
The Classic & Craft Cocktail Recipe Book is the only complete, up-to-date resource for making classic cocktails and cutting-edge innovations with your own two hands.
- BARTENDING 101Professional techniques, brand spankin new barware, and modern cocktail gadgets help you create bar-quality cocktails at home
- THEN & NOWUpdated selection of 400 recipes with official serving instructions and inspired serving notes that have gained popularity over the past decade
- BOWTIE SPECIALSGuest mixologists contribute their signature recipes
Cocktails have grown up. With The Classic & Craft Cocktail Recipe Book, your bar skills will grow up, too.
6. The Craft of the Cocktail: Everything You Need to Know to Be a Master Bartender, with 500 Recipes
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The first real cookbook for cocktails, featuring 500 recipes from the wolrd's premier mixologist, Dale DeGroff.Covering the entire breadth of this rich subject, The Craft of the Cocktail provides much more than merely the same old recipes: it delves into history, personalities, and anecdotes; it shows you how to set up a bar, master important techniques, and use tools correctly; and it delivers unique concoctions, many featuring DeGroffs signature use of fresh juices, as well as all the classics.
It begins with the history of spirits, how theyre made (but without too much boring science), the development of the mixed drink, and the culture it created, all drawn from DeGroffs vast library of vintage cocktail books. Then on to stocking the essential bar, choosing the right tools and ingredients, and mastering key techniquesthe same information that DeGroff shares with the bartenders he trains in seminars and through his videos. And then the meat of the matter: 500 recipes, including everything from tried-and-true classics to of-the-moment originals. Throughout are rich stories, vintage recipes, fast facts, and other entertaining asides.
Beautiful color photographs and a striking design round out the cookbook approach to this subject, highlighting the difference between an under-the-bar handbook and a stylish, full-blown treatment. The Craft of the Cocktail is that treatment, destined to become the bible of the bar.
7. Speakeasy: The Employees Only Guide to Classic Cocktails Reimagined
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Speakeasy The Employees Only Guide to Classic Cocktails ReimaginedDescription
Time-honored cocktails like the New York Sour and the Sidecar were born during the era of Prohibition, the blessedly bygone social experiment that turned drinking into an underground adventure. In those days, hard beverage options were usually made with homemade hooch and flavorings of dubious origin and quality.Thankfully, a cocktail renaissance has emerged in many of todays bars, where inventive drinks showcase both the artistry and craft of bartending. At their moody and atmospheric West Village bar-restaurant Employees Only, master mixologists Jason Kosmas and Dushan Zaric can regale you with colorful tales of cocktail originsor just pour you a mean drink. In Speakeasy, Kosmas and Zaric take their inspiration from traditional favorites, then use the finest spirits, the freshest ingredients, and a good measure of reverence for their craft to elevate the mixed drink to artisanal status.
More than 80 imaginative libations that riff on the classics are showcased in this one-of-a-kind collection. Recipes emphasize fresh fruits and herbs, homemade syrups and infusions, and a careful balancing of flavors, with a mind toward seasonality. A Ginger Smash is offered in four different versions: kumquat, pineapple, pear, or cranberry, depending on the time of year. The Millionaire becomes the Billionaire with the addition of homemade grenadine and 107-proof bourbon. And the South Side becomes the West Side by replacing the gin with sun-kissed Meyer lemoninfused vodka. With the specter of Prohibition firmly in the past, Speakeasy shares recipes for the choicest potent potables, reimagining the finest drinks of yesterday for todays thirsty imbibers.
8. Shake: A New Perspective on Cocktails
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Shake A New Perspective on CocktailsDescription
An artisinal cocktail book by the entrepreneurs who invented the The Mason Shaker cocktail shaker, whose mission is to bring cocktail crafting out of the bar and into the home.
Design, cocktail, and culinary enthusiasts Eric Prum and Josh Williams realized that while cocktail bars have sprouted up just about everywhere, good drinks still couldn't be found in the one place where they always mixed them: at home with friends.
So, from their Brooklyn workshop, where they designed, created, and launched The Mason Shaker, a now-iconic invention that transformed a Mason jar into a cocktail shaker, they also created Shake. One part instructional recipe book and one part photo journey through their year of cocktail crafting, the book is a simple and inspirational expression of their seasonal, straightforward approach to drinks and entertaining: Mixing cocktails should be simple, social, and above all, fun.
Each recipe is presented visually, in four color photos, as well as in written recipes, making Shake both an arresting gift and a practical guidebook to simple, elegant cocktails.
9. The Coupe: Celebrating Craft Cocktails and Vintage Collections
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The Coupe features signature recipes from the countrys best mixologists and barkeeps and embraces the mood and magic that comes from drinking a craft cocktail from this storied glass. The authors personal coupe collection inspired this book, and he offers tips for collecting coupes and styling the home bar. The Coupe also features easy and elegant dessert recipes perfect for serving in coupes, a primer on citrus garnishes, and simple syrup recipes that add depth and flavor to cocktails. Stunning photography accompanies each recipe.
The foreword is written by Patrick Dunne, author of The Epicurean Collector and proprietor of Lucullus in New Orleans, Louisiana, which boasts an international clientele because of its unique emphasis on antiques, art, and objects with a culinary connection.
Featured cocktails include:
"Peppino di Capri" from Masseria, Washington, DC
"Within Temptation" from The Cocktail Club, Charleston, South Carolina
"The Space Between the Stars" from Russell House Tavern, Boston, Massachusetts
"Tituba" from Isla, Austin, Texas
"The First of Many" from Aviary, Portland, Oregon
"Fall Classic" from Gramercy Tavern, New York City
"Barrel-Aged Boulevardier" from Sidney Street Cafe, St. Louis
"Eggnog Cocktail" from Highlands Bar and Grill, Birmingham, Alabama
"Jasons Ascension, 1988" from Cure, New Orleans, Louisiana
10. Craft Cocktails (Connoisseur)
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Used Book in Good ConditionDescription
Michelin three-star mixologist Brian Van Flandern is world renowned for innovative cocktails using fresh and exotic ingredients. In addition to the Carlyle hotel, he has created cocktails for famed chefs Thomas Keller, Mario Batali, and Michel Richard. His original recipes can be found in New York, London, Paris, Hong Kong, Sydney, Amsterdam, Singapore, and dozens of other major cities all around the world.
11. The Craft of Cocktails: Create the Perfect Cocktail
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The rise of craft cocktails has been meteoric, with bars all over the world now showcasing infused, botanical cocktails on their menus. Create these delicious concoctions in your own home with this up-to-the-minute collection of artisan cocktail recipes. As well as craft drinks and techniques, this book also covers traditional mixology methods and features classic cocktails that never go out of style, such as the Sidecar, Tom Collins, and the Negroni. Let the cocktail hour commence.12. Craft Cocktails: Classic Cocktails For All Seasons 2018 Wall Calendar (CA0182)
Description
Classic cocktails and popular drink favorites are the theme of this new calendar. The art for each recipe incorporates the unique, hand-drawn designs of chalkboard artist Valerie McKeehan. Anyone who appreciates these timeless beverages, as well as those looking to brighten their home with modern vintage charm will find this calendar appealing. Cheers!13. Cocktails: Recipe & Tasting Journal: A Craft Cocktail Recipe Book: A Unique Gift for Aspiring & Experienced Mixologists & Home Bartenders with Art ... Men, Women & University & College Students)
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2018 GIFT IDEAS | BEVERAGES & WINE | COCKTAILS & SPIRITS
Cocktails is the perfect gift to archive and save your favorite craft cocktails recipes. This beautifully designed book has space for over 200 recipes, with individual sections for different categories of cocktails.
Product Details:
- Premium matte finish cover design
- Perfect for all writing mediums
- Printed on bright-white 60lb (90gsm) paper stock
- Useful recipe format 5" x 9" (13cm x 23cm) pages