In essence, ‘, As far as us bartenders go, reading this book is a no-brainer. Learn the key techniques of bartending and mixology from a master: Written by renowned bartender and cocktail blogger Jeffrey Morgenthaler, The Bar Book is the only technique-driven cocktail handbook out there. Written by the famed bartender and founder of New York City’s legendary P.D.T Jim Meehan, the pages pull from Meehan’s experience creating cocktails. Because for most of us, the recipes and the ingredients we use aren’t up to us to decide. So don’t neglect, If you like your history, and if you like cocktails & spirits, this book is about to become your best friend. Your email address will not be published. Because it details the principle bartending techniques, how you do them, and why you use them. Amy covers over 300 different ingredients, from bananas to agave, that can be used to make liquor. It is Jim Meehan’s attempt at placing all of his many years of bartending into a single source. If you’re new to reading and/or bartending, this list is a great start. I still refer to it whenever I open up a new bottle. It starts by giving the reader a powerful step-by-step job hunting system so that landing a bartending job becomes simple, even if you have no experience. It’s in the rest section but I couldn’t justify putting it in the top ten as the recipes are a little outdated. It’s a very useful spirits reference book. There’s no doubt about it, Jeff Alworth (you can also find his work at Beervana) knows his beer. Books like that have done to cocktails what Redbull has done to young the impressionable palates that I turn back to the door nightly when I refuse to make any drinks with “pucker”. Now that we’re all holed up at home, there is certainly time to devote to some denser pieces of literature! Bartenders who are creating their own cocktails, developing menus, and those who want to learn the more complex aspects of matching drinks with food. Two books come to mind in particular, ’The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks’ by David A. Embury, and ‘Vintage Spirits & Forgotten Cocktails’ by Ted Haigh. Your email address will not be published. Like ‘Liquid Intelligence’ I recommend this book for more advanced bartenders. Outside of learning, it is also a way to find inspiration and gain valuable and different perspectives on bartending. A natural showman, Thomas toured the United States as a celebrity bartender, paving the way for others to follow suit. Another favorite book: The Curious Bartender, where the author takes classic cocktails and remakes them. Always exercise due diligence before purchasing any product or service. He’s the CEO of the Union Square hospitality group and he’s largely responsible for their enormous success. Though it is slightly less recipe-heavy, it is such a wealth of information on ‘science-ing’ your way to great cocktails.”, “Amaro from Brad Thomas Parsons is fantastic for branching out into the world of digestivi. They’re the primary ingredients we use when we make cocktails, and they’re what our guests expect us to know about most. And to be honest, it’s more like a science experiment than a book on cocktails or bartending! Like I said earlier, product knowledge is important for bartenders. You’ll learn about brewing, the different beer styles, different ingredients, beer history, and much more. This book shines a light to guide you through all the complexities as well as just how to enjoy them.”, “This book, brought together through posthumous collaboration, was one of those Holy Grail-type reads for me. As bars remain closed in the wake of the coronavirus, drinkers everywhere are learning how to make cocktails at home. What about fermentation? Second edition coming next year! Yep, that’s ahead of any spirit, cocktail, & wine you’ll ever sell behind the bar. Last book I read was Being stripped naked” by Adam Peirs. And this is the best reference book you’ll find on these subjects. He is a contributing editor of Food & Wine magazine's annual cocktail book, Mr. Boston's Bartender Guide, and Sommelier Journal. One thing that can help narrow the considerable skill gap separating the amateurs from the professionals is a good cocktail book. From the moment I picked up this book, I couldn’t put it down. See our. This is the first book I ever read on bartending and I loved it. We are also given contemporary techniques for making necessary ingredients for use in modern and classic cocktails in an informal manner.”, Punch by David Wondrich — “This book reveals the history of spirits as far back as the 16th century, relays information about who was actually bartending, and throws out modern versions of old recipes. Reading books is great for the soul and it’s great for your bartending career. Two books in particular that I love are Divided Spirits: Tequila, Mezcal, and the Politics of Production by Sarah Bowen, which explores the recent explosive growth of consumption of agave spirits and how it’s affecting the production, branding, and regulation of those spirits; and Caribbean Rum by Frederick H. Smith, which delves into the sometimes sordid history of a central economic, cultural, and political piece of the islands for centuries.”. From stirred, savory cocktails to shaken, creamy dessert drinks, this fun book is perfect for expanding the home bar repertoire.”, Drinking Distilled by Jeffrey Morgenthaler — “Moving beyond recipes, this book riffs on all the other aspects of drinking and its culture and traditions. So if you don’t know the answers to the above questions, I highly recommend you read ‘The Drunken Botanist’. His chief weaknesses include Green Chartreuse and just about anything in a Nick and Nora glass. It’s all in books. This book establishes the classic recipes before we started layering more drinks with smaller quantities to enhance the nuances. Note: Most of these books are better to purchase in print version (i.e. Although most bartender’s primary focus is on making cocktails and learning about spirits, learning about wine is just as important. 30 comments. You should not rely solely on information contained in this email to evaluate the product or service being endorsed. Regarding Cocktails from the late Sasha Petraske is full of modern classics, variations, theory and lore. It’s a really intimate, sweet, and funny tale about what it is we do, and how what we do informs the rest of our lives. Trust me! The recipes are delicious, but I honestly just want to curl up with a copita of mezcal and read this book to appreciate the people who harvest and distill all these beautiful spirits we often take for granted.”, Tiki: Modern Tropical Cocktails by Shannon Mustipher — “It’s getting warmer and you’re going to need a good Tiki guide on your shelf. This book is sure to keep you busy for a while! What Is Butterfly Pea Flower, and Why Is It Invading Your Cocktails? Set between 1813 and 1827, the Bridgerton Series is a collection of eight novels, each featuring one of the eight children of the late Viscount Bridgerton: Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth. As bartenders, we also need to learn how to balance flavors, match drinks with food, and learn how to combine different ingredients’ flavors. So if you’re still relatively new to bartending, come back to this book later, when you’re ready to delve deeper into different flavor combinations. In times where we are stuck at home and can’t travel, books that transport you to another place are always comforting and helps feed our wanderlust. His bar, Amor y Amargo, is a testament to his creativity, making incredible drinks using bitters without shaking and without juice. The Tequila 1000: The Ultimate Collection of Tequila Cocktails, Recipes, Facts, and Resources $ 16.99 This bartending book is refreshing since it’s written not only for bartenders, but for small-time party planners as well, so beginners in the art of mixology will have a lot to learn from it. But I love Smuggler’s Cove. Why you should read this book: To learn about the history of cocktails, American bartending, and the great Jerry Thomas. Bitters without shaking and without juice well-known bartender, paving the way for others to follow suit ) his. Help you become a better bartender and live the bartending dream – that! Know it ’ s minimalist yet exacting and passionate approach to bartending I. 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