Learn the Basics of Cocktail Making with The Bar Book: Techniques and Recipes for Crafting Delicious Drinks

D M Stark: This book covers every aspect of bartending the home-bartender needs to know, and a lot of stuff he didn't know was interesting. And it's beautifully written, every sentence is clear and concise. If you buy just one book about mixology, this should be it.

United States on Aug 31, 2023

Pandora S.: Been bartending for yearsss and I always tell people bartending isn’t that hard. Don’t be flustered by the numbers of cocktails. All you need is to learn the techniques n the bases. This book has you covered. The rest is really up to you lol the personality side but having knowledge to the craft gives you some respect as a start. This is more of a technique book.

United States on Mar 14, 2023

Liane Falcão Barcelos: Comprei para dar de presente. O presenteado amou.

Brazil on Dec 01, 2022

Andrea: A book very nicely written, well organized in chapters and with a clear description of several techniques and processes. A must-have for newbies in the mixology

Germany on Nov 22, 2022

SVBH: Really great for say a professional or intermediate cocktail host. Very detailed with breakdowns of what is a great cocktail. Was hoping for more cocktail recipes and this is more techniques to create cocktails

Canada on Apr 26, 2022

Carlos Philipe Potrich Olsen: Um livro com técnicas para coquetelaria em sentido amplo. Escolha de frutas, manipulação de gelo, fabricação de "shrubs".

Definitivamente esse é o livro que você procura. (Source: Trust me bro).

Brazil on Jul 17, 2021

Davide: È una pietra miliare della conoscenza.
Sono rimasto esterrefatto, me l'ha consigliato un grandissimo barman, che si è rivelato essere un maestro.
Questo libro è una fonte di conoscenza teorica, pratica e storica, oltre che di ispirazione.

Italy on Dec 26, 2020

JMo: I pre-ordered this before it came out and have had it for about two weeks. I stayed up late a few days after the book arrived and read it cover to cover-- really. The book is beautiful, and very practical. I like to think I know a bit more than just the difference between shaking and stirring. Jeffrey goes deeper, and It is great to go there with him. Please note, this is not primarily a cocktail recipe book. Go elsewhere for that (Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails is my current favorite). The Bar Book is a technique book and if you want to learn and improve your cocktails, this is the best book I have seen. Up until now, my favorite technique reference was actually an IPhone app- Speakeasy Cocktails- a real winner, but that app only scratches the surface with some great demo videos, in comparison to the Bar Book.

A couple quick notes- The Quinine syrup recipe was last week's project. I did have to call around to find a source for cinchona bark- so worth it- what an exceptional G and T resulted. This week, the true green mint simple syrup has enabled easy mint juleps, mint/lime sodas, and some quick mojitos (oxymoron, I know). I think brandied cherries might be...

United States on Jun 16, 2014

Philip Duff: There's "Setting the Table" by Danny Meyer, to learn about being truly hospitable. There's "The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks" by David Embury, to learn about the theory and practise of mixology. And now there is "Bar Book" by Jeffrey Morgenthaler*.
I've trained about 60,000 bartenders in 60-odd (sometimes very odd) countries in the last 15 years. I've founded Europe's largest bar school as well as an award-winning craft cocktail bar, and if I could go back in time I would give Jeffrey's book to each and every student I've ever had. As it is, I will give it to every student I have from now on.
Jeffrey's research, insight and experience have resulted in a book that will shave years off the time needed to master drink making, leaving more time for professionals to concentrate on creativity and hospitality, and for interested Cocktailians** to concentrate on seducing your neighbours' wives (and husbands) at the excellent cocktail parties you will henceforth be able to effortlessly throw.

This is where you click "buy now". Now!

* Disclosure: Jeffrey is a friend and contemporary of mine, but such a cheap, thoughtless bastard that not only did he not think to offer me a...

United States on Jun 07, 2014

David Sohigian: I recently set up a home bar and have been looking for guides that would show the ins and outs of preparing quality cocktails. There seem to be a lot of books out there with recipes, but none of them really get down to the fundamentals of technique. I have even looked into professional bar-tending classes, but they seem to inconvenient and I suspect they focus as much on customer issues and how to crank out the drinks. I typically only have one drink a night: I want it to be a good one!

This book truly delivers. It is beautiful with magnificent photos, it's the right size to sit on a bar shelf and, most importantly, it really gets down to the details of technique. A good example is the chapter on shaking...

About a week ago (before buying this book) I cracked the glass part of my Boston Shaker when trying to release it. It made me realize that I really had no idea how to deal with shaking a cocktail in general. Then along comes Morgenthaler's chapter on shaking. He starts by listing (in detail) the different shakers and how they can be used. He describes (in detail) the brands and qualities of the various shakers and what characteristics you should look for in each...

United States on Jun 06, 2014