The 15 Best Cocktail Books to Up Your Mixology Game
- 1/16
The 15 Best Cocktail Books to Up Your Mixology Game
Sometimes you've just had one of those days/weeks/months/years (@ 2020) and all you really want is a damn good cocktail. You might think you can only get those by exiting the comfort of your home and entering a bar, but think again! With the help of cocktail recipe books, you'll be able to make a great cocktail at half the price of the one you would get at your local watering hole.
And I know you're probs thinking about how the only drink you know how to make is a shot of tequila (which is not to be understated), but cocktail books exist to take your abilities from mediocre to master mixologist. And with the help of my trusty friend, The Internet, I've found the best cocktail recipe books for you to learn from.
These books provide intel on everything you'd need to know to make a delicious cocktail. They answer questions like "where does my alcohol come from?" and "what the hell is a jigger?" And once they teach you all about the basics, you can get right to making those fancy cocktails. When you purchase these books, you won't even need to go out for a good cocktail, and that folks, is what we like to call a dream come true.
Katie Buckleitner - 2/16
1) The Joy of Mixology: The Consummate Guide to the Bartender's Craft
Clarkson Potter
amazon.com
$25.54
In this all-time classic, Gary Regan categorizes hundreds of recipes into families rather than by spirit. This is so that you can learn recipes with similar ingredients one after the other, and that way it will be easier for you to remember each drink. It also starts off with a v useful section on the fundamentals, so you won't be confused what the word "jigger" means when you're half way through a recipe.
Amazon - 3/16
2) The Drunken Botanist
Algonquin Books
amazon.com
$16.29
If you've ever wondered where the hell alcohol comes from, then this is a must-read for you. The Drunken Botanist goes into depth on the herbs, flowers, fruits, and trees that provide us with the base to our beloved cocktails. Although you can sit back with this book and learn all about how sake comes from a grain of rice, there's also a large index of recipes for all of the classic cocktails.
Amazon - 4/16
3) The Craft of the Cocktail: Everything You Need to Know to Be a Master Bartender
amazon.com
$7.99
You need to perfect the techniques before you can even think about making the cocktails, and this book is all about teaching you the basics. And with over 500 recipes, you'll be spending a looot of time trying to perfect all the delicious cocktails inside. Trust, there's something for everyone in this book.
Amazon - 5/16
4) The Savoy Cocktail Book
Martino Fine Books
amazon.com
$19.95
Talk about an oldie but a goodie! This book was published in 1930 and still reigns as one of the most supreme texts in cocktail making. Written by Harry Craddock of the Savoy Hotel London (a destination for cocktail lovers,) Craddock's recipes are largely considered the gold standard in the world of cocktails.
Amazon - 6/16
5) Drink: The Ultimate Cocktail Book
Cider Mill Press
amazon.com
$22.87
This book has literally EVERYTHING for beginners: over 1,100 easy-to-follow cocktail recipes, a guide to homemade ingredients like simple syrups, and explanations of tools, garnishes, and ice. With this book, you'll be a professional mixologist in no time.
Amazon - 7/16
6) Tiki: Modern Tropical Cocktails
Rizzoli
amazon.com
$22.25
Sometimes (read: all the time) we need a vacation. And what says vacation more than fruity drinks with tropical twists? The cocktails in this book emulate a trip to paradise even when it's 25 degrees outside and you're in the middle of a snowstorm. Think lots of rum and fresh fruit juices. So...yum.
Amazon - 8/16
7) Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail
W. W. Norton & Company
amazon.com
$31.49
Cocktail making meets...science? Liquid Intelligence is all about creative techniques and revolutionary methods to take any cocktail from zero to 100. This might not be the best choice for those just starting out in cocktail making, but if words like "nitro-muddling" and "infusing" are exciting to you, then this will definitely be worth a purchase.
Amazon - 9/16
8) Meehan's Bartender Manual
Ten Speed Press
amazon.com
$27.91
This is a great read if you're looking to open up your own bar, spontaneously dive into the world of mixology, or make some damn good cocktails. Aside from a variety of classic cocktail recipes, this book also explores the bar industry at length. You'll get everything from bar design, menu development, spirits production, drink mixing technique and more in this bartender's manual.
Amazon - 10/16
9) Speakeasy: The Employees Only Guide to Classic Cocktails Reimagined
Ten Speed Press
amazon.com
$19.37
Let's face it, the classics are great, but they could use a little update every once in awhile...which is where Speakeasy comes in. This book takes the quintessential cocktails we all know and love and puts a unique spin on them. And the good thing about the updates on these cocktails is that they still use familiar ingredients that won't have you running around to 20 different stores.
Amazon - 11/16
10) Gather Around Cocktails: Drinks to Celebrate Usual and Unusual Holidays (The Hosting Hacks Series)
Dovetail
amazon.com
$20.00
For those of us who love to host but never have any idea what drinks to serve, our prayers have been answered. Gather Around Cocktails has a drink for every holiday or special occasion you might be celebrating with friends and family. From Christmas to a Super Bowl watch party, you'll never have to struggle with what to serve guests again. Pro tip: a Bloody Mary is always a crowd pleaser, and this book teaches you the best way to set one up !!
Amazon - 12/16
11) Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails
Ten Speed Press
amazon.com
$21.18
Death & Co is a must-try spot for all cocktail lovers. It's an award-winning bar (America’s Best Cocktail Bar and Best Cocktail Menu, TYVM) that is creating some of the most iconic modern cocktails of today. The book highlights over 500 recipes of the bar's most sought-after cocktails, which is great for when you can't make it to the actual bar in NYC or don't feel like waiting 2+ hours for an expensive cocktail.
Amazon - 13/16
12) Booze & Vinyl: A Spirited Guide to Great Music and Mixed Drinks
Running Press Adult
amazon.com
$19.32
Good music makes every situation better, and sipping on cocktails is no exception. This book is categorized into four different moods (rock, dance, chill, and seduce) and pairs songs and cocktails together that match that mood. With over 100 cocktail recipes, there's a perfect cocktail match to all 70 featured albums. You may never be able to listen to The Beatles again without wanting a drink!
Amazon - 14/16
13) The Aviary Cocktail Book
amazon.com
$85.00
Okay, so this one might not be the most *practical* cocktail book to have, but it sure is pretty to look at! Most of the cocktails in this book require some more high-tech equipment that your basic kitchen supplies might not consist of, which is why it's more of a "looker" than anything. The colors are vibrant and the cocktails are fascinating, making this one of the coolest books you can add to your library.
Amazon - 15/16
14) The Bar Book: Elements of Cocktail Technique
Chronicle Books
amazon.com
$22.25
Don't have any idea the how to hold your strainer? Intimidated by all the very long spoons that came with your "bar essentials kit?" Well no need to stress, because The Bar Book teaches you how to use all that fancy equipment. Once you learn all the techniques, you'll put them to good use with the 60 cocktail recipes offered in this book.
Amazon - 16/16
15) Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All, with Cocktails, Recipes, and Formulas
Ten Speed Press
amazon.com
$19.37
Honestly, WUT R BITTERS? I surely can't tell you, but this book has a lengthy explanation of that question and everything else you may need to know about bitters (which apparently is a lot??) You can learn how to make your own bitters and then use those to create the delicious cocktails listed in the book.
Amazon
You're better than those boring G&Ts.
