In general, I love books. I love the knowledge and the wisdom (and the entertainment) that they contain. In my fantasy home, I would have a large study filled wall-to-wall with books like out of some Edwardian mansion. In this fantasy home, I would also have an endlessly well-stocked bar surrounded by as many cocktail books as I can get my hands on.
There is no shortage of fabulous tomes on the subject of cocktails. There are many technical manuals, philosophical ramblings, histories, and so on that delve into some aspect or another of cocktail dorkdom. Where to even begin? I’ve read a few great cocktail books, but of course there are so many more out there to read. Here is a smattering of some of my favorite texts on the subject, and also place I go to find out more.
Of course, it’s quite difficult to pick out just a few favorites to feature. And there are many fantastic things I have yet to read. But here is my best attempt at choosing a few.
Liquid Intelligence: The Art & Science of the Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold. This book is perfect for a dork like me. Page after page it contains delightful scientific details and other secrets behind the magic of crafting excellent cocktails. It’s a dense read, but it’s worth it if you really want to understand the nitty gritty behind your favorite tipple.
Death & Co.: Modern Classic Cocktails by David Kaplan, Nick Fauchald, and Alex Day. Part story, part how-to, and part recipe book, there’s a lot of enjoyment to be had in this book. It’s the story of Death & Co. in New York, how they came to be the world-class cocktail establishment that they are. Along the way, they discuss technique, recipes of many of their concoctions, and fun stories of regulars. Especially now, when many bars have been closed for some time due to Covid-19, this is a great book for making many fancy drinks at home, and reminiscing about when we could go to bars.
Flavor: The Science of Our Most Neglected Sense by Bob Holmes. OK. So this is not strictly a cocktail book, but I’m am unhesitatingly including on the list here. Cocktails are all about flavor. And it’s hard to getting better at combining the sundry flavors that make up a cocktail without understanding how flavor actually works. Also, if you want some really good listening, Bob Holmes appeared on episode 188 of the Bartender At Large podcast. Strongly recommended.
For this last one, I haven’t actually read it yet, but this is what I’m most excited about reading next. Drink What You Want by John deBary. If ever there were a book title that appealed to my philosophical sensibilities, this is it. As Mrs. Cocktail Dork can attest, I am often found saying, “life is too short to drink something you don’t like.” I’ve seen and heard a few interviews with John deBary about this book, and I’m looking forward to diving in! I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes.
Oof. I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface. If you’re looking for more, here are some other places to go check out. On an April episode of the Bartender’s Journey podcast, Brian Weber and Amin Benny give their top ten (plus) list of bartender book recommendations. It’s very hard to go wrong with anything on that list. And to help keep tabs on the growing world of fantastic cocktail literature, I find that Books Section of the Alcademics blog written by Camper English to be fantastic at keeping tabs on what’s new.
What are your favorites cocktail books?