When you want to be fabulous, having the right books on hand to help you learn how to make classic beverages and martinis can be a godsend. While there are several popular books out there right now, there are a few classics that should be on each person’s shelf. Here are a few that Wining Husband and I have on our shelf.
The New York Bartender’s Guide– This classic book is simple and doesn’t have a whole lot of bells and whistles. However, it is a great book to look through when you want to find cocktails classic and not so classic – and when you want to know what that weird thingy-majig your Great Aunt Sandy passed down to you does. It should find its way onto everyone’s shelf as a classic reference guide.
The Savoy Cocktail Book– For those during the 1920s who were looking for a place to record their prohibition-era creations, Savoy was the place. Some of the most popular cocktails in the world were born in this collection. If you enjoy martinis and drinks from the golden age of the cocktail, this is your book.
What’s your favorite classic cocktail book? What books do you have on your shelf? We’ve also begun to amass a collection of the Food and Wine annual cocktail books – they have some neat neoclassics and contemporary cocktails in them like The Last Word and The Incan. Post your favorites in the comments.
Ronda Bowen is a writer, editor, and independent scholar. She has a Master of Arts in Philosophy from Northern Illinois University and a B.A. in Philosophy, Pre-Graduate Option, Honors in the Major from California State University, Chico. When she is not working on client projects from her editorial consulting business, she is writing a novel. In her free time, she enjoys gourmet cooking, wine, martinis, copious amounts of coffee, reading, watching movies, sewing, crocheting, crafts, hanging out with her husband, and spending time with their teenage son and infant daughter.
