Cocktail Books and Bartending Guides

The 4th edition of Bartending 101 : The Basics of Mixology is an easy to read guide to the basics of bartending that now includes chapters on beer and wine. Based on the Harvard Student Agencies Bartending course, this bartending guide is a great "all you need to know" book for the mixing enthusiast and aspiring bartender. Fun illustrations and an improved guide to throwing a great cocktail party helps this reference stand out from the rest.

For the beginner bartender that wants to know it all and know it now The Ultimate A-to-Z Bar Guide by Sharon Tyler Herbst is going to be one of your best resources. Her detailed explanations of over 600 cocktail terms from glassware to liqueurs are so informative it is almost an information overload. Besides over 1000 cocktail recipes, Herbst also expands on responsible drinking, hangover cures and calorie counts in this great resource.

If you're looking for a well-rounded listing of cocktails that is well organized and can stand up to some of the hazards of a bar, Bartender Magazine's Ultimate Bartender Guide is a great choice. Written by Ray Foley, publisher of Bartender magazine and author of many bartending books, this bartending guide covers the basics in an easy reference format and includes over 1,300 modernized cocktails

The Maran Illustrated Bartending book is an excellent beginner's bartending guide, especially for those who like visual aids. This book is filled with over 500 cocktail, shooter and mocktail recipes, each of which are accompanied by a beautiful color photograph. An illustrated guide to bartending techniques as well as the basics of beer and wine are also included.

We know great food when we taste it and we know a great drink when it crosses our path but for the ultimate dining experience it is essential to find a match between these two facets that compliment one another. In What To Drink With What You Eat Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page break down almost every possible food and beverage pairing, including things as obscure as a Big Mac, Dominoes Pizza and water.

The History and Stories of the Best Bars of New York is an illustrated guide to thirty of the classic bars of the city. It includes profiles of each establishment, the people who have imbibed within their walls and the impact and effect many of these bars have had on the history of New York City and American culture.

Just Cocktails was first published in 1939 and written by W.C. Whitfield. It is one of those rare books to find in its early editions but my first edition copy is one of the prized additions to my cocktail book collection. Really, as a bartending guide it is nothing spectacular apart from being a collection of popular cocktails from the Prohibition era and includes many drinks from "The Gay Nineties" (1890's that is). What I love about this book is the presentation. The first edition has a hard wood cover with scalloped edges, brass hinges and leather lace binding. The pages have great illustrations in the 30's style of cartooning scattered throughout for a touch of whimsy.