Cocktail Books, Great Toasts & More Fun

Every bartender or cocktail enthusiast should have at least one book that is filled with cocktail recipes. These are great for finding new drinks, learning some of the classic and popular cocktails, and read about the basics of bartending from the spirits to the garnishes involved.

A directory of monthly and bi-monthly periodicals dedicated to the art of fine drinking, specifically distilled spirits and cocktails.

While whiskey enthusiasts may fight over which bourbon is best or which region of Scotland produces the best single malts, everyone can agree that whiskey is a very food friendly spirit. Here are a variety of cookbooks whose recipes will match well with whiskies and offer up a variety of items from pickles to appetizers to desserts.

A short list of cocktail and bartending books that were released in 2011 and are fun and enlightening reading for the winter season.

What a great year for cocktail reading 2009 has been! I'm excited to have seen my bar library grow with such an array of fascinating and informative books and it's refreshing to see more that go far beyond bartending guides and actually tell a story in depth.

2008 has been another great year for cocktail literature. From the digests that study history to flavor reference guides and all the advice you could want about using fresh ingredients, this year's book releases cover the gamut of mixology.

It's always interesting to look back on an entire year of book releases. In 2007 we saw a great selection of history collections surrounding cocktails, the bars they have been served in and the savvy bottle slingers behind the bars.

Wonderful things came out of the cocktail scene in 2006 and literature was no exception. Going beyond bartending guides filled with recipes, more and more authors are touching on the background and culture surrounding spirits and the concoctions we make out of them.

Whether you're on the giving or receiving end of a toast or you're just a guest at the party, there are a few basic rules of etiquette that a will help you avoid most social mishaps.

Irish folk-lore is riddled with inspirational words, stories and songs about luck, love and happiness that have helped the people of the island through many of the most difficult times. Considering the Irish do love their pubs and beer, it is only natural that these colorful phrases were developed into toasts.

How to play Bizz Buzz, a drinking word game.