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Best Cocktail Books

Shake up your mixology skills with this curated collection of celebrated cocktail books, praised by bartenders and enthusiasts for their delicious recipes and creative inspiration.

Recommendations from 86 articles, Chris Messina, Quinn Cummings, Peter Suderman and 5 others.
Best Cocktail Books
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Cocktail Codex book cover
Cocktail Codex
Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions
Alex Day - 2018-10-30
Goodreads Rating
"Master the Art of Mixology with Cocktail Codex" - Written by the experts behind the legendary Death & Co cocktail bar, this book offers a unique approach to crafting perfect beverages. Learn the six "root recipes" that serve as the foundation for all classic cocktails and discover what makes each one unique. With the tools provided in this comprehensive guide, both novice and experienced bartenders alike will be able to execute classic drinks and create original ones with ease. Winner of multiple awards, including the James Beard and Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award, Cocktail Codex is a must-read for any cocktail enthusiast.
Recommended by
Alisha Rai
Imbibe! book cover
Imbibe!
From Absinthe Cocktail to Whiskey Smash, a Salute in Stories and Drinks to "Professor" Jerry Thomas, Pioneer of the American Bar
David Wondrich - 2007-11-06
Goodreads Rating
David Wondrich's Imbibe! is the ultimate guide to classic American cocktails. With over 100 never-before-published recipes for punches, cocktails, sours, and more, along with detailed historical and mixological notes, this engaging book pays tribute to Jerry Thomas, the father of the American bar. The newly updated edition includes the origins of the first American drink, the Mint Julep, and provides more detail about 19th-century spirits, making it an essential read for anyone who appreciates the timeless appeal of a well-made drink and the uniquely American history behind it.
Meehan's Bartender Manual book cover
Meehan's Bartender Manual
Jim Meehan - 2017-10-17
Goodreads Rating
Discover the ins and outs of the modern bar industry with Meehan's Bartender Manual by acclaimed mixologist Jim Meehan. This stunningly packaged guide chronicles Meehan's storied career in the bar business through enlightening chapters that mix history with professional insight. Learn about essential topics including bartending history, service, hospitality, menu development, bar design, spirits production, drink mixing technique, and the tools you'll need to create a well-stocked bar. The book also includes recipes for 100 cocktail classics, detailed annotations, and breathtaking full-color photos. Presented in a textured cover with debossed type, rounded corners, and nearly 500 pages, this iconic manual is an instant classic for professionals and amateurs alike.
The Savoy Cocktail Book book cover
The Savoy Cocktail Book
Harry Craddock - 2007-11-01 (first published in 1930)
Goodreads Rating
Indulge in the sophisticated world of London's high society in the 1930s with this iconic cocktail book. With over 750 classic cocktail recipes, this compendium covers everything about drinks, from creation to consumption. The updated edition even features new cocktails, including the Millennium Cocktail. Perfect for classy cocktail enthusiasts, this book captures the spirit of the times and is a must-have for recreating the tradition of sophisticated soirees at The Savoy time and time again.
Death & Co book cover
Death & Co
Modern Classic Cocktails
David Kaplan - 2014-10-07
Goodreads Rating
Discover the art of contemporary craft cocktails with this definitive guide from the world-renowned bar, Death & Co. This influential bar has won numerous industry awards and is a must-visit destination for serious drinkers and cocktail enthusiasts. The book features over 500 innovative and sought-after cocktail recipes, along with a complete guide to buying and using spirits and mastering key bartending techniques. Filled with beautiful photography, charts, and colorful essays, Death & Co sets the pace for mixologists around the world.
Liquid Intelligence book cover
Liquid Intelligence
The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail
Dave Arnold - 2014-11-21
Goodreads Rating
Revolutionize your expectations of what a drink can look and taste like with Liquid Intelligence. This book by Dave Arnold, the creative force behind New York City’s high-tech bar, Booker & Dax, takes readers behind the counter and into the lab where Arnold and his collaborators investigate temperature, carbonation, sugar concentration, and acidity to enhance classic cocktails and invent new ones. Featuring over 120 recipes and practical tips for preparing drinks, Liquid Intelligence offers a problem-solving approach to cocktail making grounded in creativity and attentive observation. Don't miss out on this ultimate standard for bartenders and drink enthusiasts alike.
Recommended by
Peter Suderman
The PDT Cocktail Book book cover
The PDT Cocktail Book
The Complete Bartender's Guide from the Celebrated Speakeasy
Jim Meehan - 2011-11-01
Goodreads Rating
A beautifully illustrated and crafted bar book by NYC's most meticulous bartender, featuring 304 cocktail recipes and behind-the-scenes secrets from one of the city's hottest bars. Recalling the era of hidden Prohibition speakeasies, the book offers a glimpse into PDT's innovative design, tools, techniques, food, and spirits. Perfect for those looking to learn how to mix and serve sensational cocktails at home.
The Craft of the Cocktail book cover
The Craft of the Cocktail
Everything You Need to Know to Be a Master Bartender, with 500 Recipes
Dale Degroff - 2002-10-15
Goodreads Rating
Discover the art of cocktails with this comprehensive and entertaining guide. From the history of spirits to setting up a bar and mastering key techniques, The Craft of the Cocktail covers it all with anecdotes, vintage recipes, fast facts, and 500 unique concoctions. Written by the world's premier mixologist, this bible of the bar is not just a recipe book, but a full-blown treatment on the subject. With stunning color photographs and a striking design, this is the only cocktail cookbook you'll ever need.
The Drunken Botanist book cover
The Drunken Botanist
Amy Stewart - 2013-03-19
Goodreads Rating
Discover the fascinating origins of your favorite drinks in "The Drunken Botanist." This book delves into the plant-based history and science behind over 150 plants, flowers, trees, and fruits that have been fermented and distilled to make some of the world's most unique drinks. Learn how molasses played a role in American independence and how rye, a common ingredient in spirits, contains a precursor to LSD. With vintage-style illustrations, growing tips, and over fifty drink recipes, this book is the perfect mix of education and fun for gardeners and cocktail lovers.
The Bar Book book cover
The Bar Book
Elements of Cocktail Technique (Cocktail Book with Cocktail Recipes, Mixology Book for Bartending)
Jeffrey Morgenthaler - 2014-06-03
Goodreads Rating
Master the craft of bartending and mixology with The Bar Book, written by renowned bartender and cocktail blogger Jeffrey Morgenthaler. This technique-driven cocktail book breaks down bartending into essential skills and applies them to over 60 impressive drink recipes. Learn the best practices for juicing, garnishing, carbonating, stirring and shaking, and more with helpful how-to photography. Impress your family and guests with your cocktail skills now!
Jerry Thomas' Bartender's Guide by Jerry Thomas
Tiki by Shannon Mustipher
Tequila Mockingbird by Tim Federle
Bitters by Brad Thomas Parsons
Smuggler's Cove by Martin Cate
The Dead Rabbit Drinks Manual by Sean Muldoon
The 12 Bottle Bar by David Solmonson
The Ultimate Bar Book by Mittie Hellmich
3-Ingredient Cocktails by Robert Simonson
Booze & Vinyl by André Darlington
Spirits of Latin America by Ivy Mix
The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks by David A. Embury
The Dead Rabbit Mixology & Mayhem by Sean Muldoon
Drinking Like Ladies by Misty Kalkofen
The NoMad Cocktail Book by Leo Robitschek
The Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock by Harry Craddock
The New Craft of the Cocktail by Dale Degroff
I'm Just Here for the Drinks by Sother Teague
Ted Haigh by Ted Haigh
Beachbum Berry's Potions of the Caribbean by Jeff Berry
Speakeasy by Jason Kosmas
The Flavor Bible by Andrew Dornenburg
How to Cocktail by America'S Test Kitchen
Punch by David Wondrich
The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails by David Wondrich
The Waldorf Astoria Bar Book by Frank Caiafa
Last Call by Brad Thomas Parsons
The Japanese Art of the Cocktail by Masahiro Urushido
Apéritif by Rebekah Peppler
The Craft Cocktail Party by Julie Reiner
Boozehound by Jason Wilson
Regarding Cocktails by Sasha Petraske
Amaro by Brad Thomas Parsons
And a Bottle of Rum by Wayne Curtis
Good Drinks by Julia Bainbridge
The Essential Cocktail by Dale Degroff
Shake by Eric Prum
The One-Bottle Cocktail by Maggie Hoffman
Batch Cocktails by Maggie Hoffman
The Old-Fashioned by Robert Simonson
Ideal Bartender by Tom Bullock
Spirits, Sugar, Water, Bitters by Derek Brown
The Martini Cocktail by Robert Simonson
Good Things to Drink with Mr Lyan and Friends by Ryan Chetiyawardana
The Gentleman's Companion by Charles Henry Baker
The Art of Mixology by Parragon Books
Fancy AF Cocktails by Ariana Madix
Shrubs by Michael Dietsch
American Whiskey, Bourbon & Rye by Clay Risen
Spritz by Talia Baiocchi
Cocktails Made Simple by Brian Weber
To Have and Have Another Revised Edition by Philip Greene
The Essential New York Times Book of Cocktails by Steve Reddicliffe
Drink What You Want by John Debary
Drinking Distilled by Jeffrey Morgenthaler
The Cocktail Chronicles by Paul Clarke
The Bartender's Manifesto by Toby Maloney, Emma Janzen, The Bartenders of The Violet Hour
The Cocktail Guy by Rich Woods
Session Cocktails by Drew Lazor
The Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book by Albert S Crockett
A Spot at the Bar by Michael Madrusan
Recipes for Mixed Drinks by Hugo R. Ensslin
The New Cocktail Hour by André Darlington
Gone with the Gin by Tim Federle
The Essential Bar Book for Home Mixologists by Amy Traynor
The Oxford Companion to Wine by Jancis Robinson
The Oxford Companion to Beer by Garrett Oliver
Mezcal by Emma Janzen
Free the Tipple by Jennifer Croll
The Way of Whisky by Dave Broom
The New York Times Essential Book of Cocktails (Second Edition) by Steve Reddicliffe, Rosie Schaap, Jennifer Finney Boylan
Hacking Whiskey by Aaron Goldfarb
Difford's Guide to Cocktails #12 by Simon Difford
Camp Cocktails by Emily Vikre
Shaken by Ian Fleming
A Drinkable Feast by Philip Greene
Whiskey by Michael Dietsch
Cocktails Across America by Diane Lapis
Gather Around Cocktails by Aaron Goldfarb
Great Northern Cocktails by Shawn Soole
Proof by Adam Rogers
Sherry by Talia Baiocchi
Signature Cocktails by Amanda Schuster
The Home Bartender by Shane Carley
Cocktail Techniques by Kazuo Uyeda
The Vegetarian Flavor Bible by Karen Page
Gin O’clock by Craft Gin Club
Trader Vic's Bartender's Guide by Victor Jules Bergeron, Shirley Sarvis, Helen Ann Dewerd
Agave Spirits by Gary Paul Nabhan, David Suro Piñera
Movie Cocktails by Will Francis, Stacey Marsh