Mixology Books

Hi,

I am seeking recommendations on books advising how to make mixed drinks. The few I have are relatively ancient, mostly for reference and never relied upon for a drink. The book should have some contemporary drinks like Cosmopolitans, dirty martinis plus the classics like Manhattans.

Thanks!

Regards,

Mr. Boston always seems a good choice.

I bought the Williams-Sonoma one some years back and it seems exactly like what you want-- all the old classics covered, most of the new drinks you've heard of that aren't completely idiotic, and enough chatty sidebar (sidecar?) content to make it interesting to peruse.

Used to mix up cocktails before dinner as a regular thing. Two favorite cocktail books are:

Feller : The Complete Bartender [the Kyoto cocktail is still a favorite of mine]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/042519 ... e&n=283155

and Herbst & Herbst: The Ultimate A-to-Z Bar Guide [by the same Sharon Tyler Herbst who wrote the Food Lover's Companion].

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/076790 ... oding=UTF8


Both have many cocktail recipes. Feller has more, it appears, but to my eye [and tastebuds] some of them are of more historical interest than 'gotta try this tonight' mixology. The Herbst's book is a bit more informative and more chatty, but has fewer recipes.

I'd probably go with the Herbst's book because it's more interesting if you're interested in food and potables in general, it's a more interesting read, and it probably has more recipes than you want anyway.

Giovanna

I'll second the Feller book. It has the recipes listed alphabetically by name and has sections at the end which contain lists of drinks by liquor and liqueur (as well as a 'New drinks for the Nineties' section).

Funnily enough the one cocktail it doesn't list is the Cosmopolitan.

2 oz. Vodka
1 oz. Grand Marnier or Cointreau or Triple sec
1/4 oz. lime juice
1 oz. cranberry juice

shake with ice, strain, lime garnish.