The Best Cocktail Recipe Book

Buying Guide

A cocktail recipe book is a great way to learn how to make drinks at home. There are many different cocktail books available, so it is important to choose one that suits your needs. Which one to select can be tough to decide, but there are some key things to look for when choosing a cocktail recipe book.

First, the number and variety of cocktail recipes included is important. A good cocktail book will have recipes for both classic and modern cocktails. How the text is laid out matters, too. Cocktail books should be organized in a way that is easy to follow. Look for a book with clear instructions and step-by-step photos.

Beyond just modern and vintage beverages, a cocktail book should offer a wide range of drinks to make. From simple mixed drinks to more complex cocktails, there should be something for everyone. This includes after-dinner drinks, brunch cocktails and non-alcoholic options, too.

Shopping for someone else? Cocktail recipe books make great gifts for cocktail lovers and entertainers. They are also excellent housewarming gifts.

There are many themed cocktail recipe books on the market. If you have a particular interest, such as tiki cocktails or holiday drinks, there is likely a book that specializes in those recipes. There are even books with mixology surrounding television shows, classic literature or famous places. Finding something catered to your favorite hobbies or interests in this way can make learning to make drinks even more enjoyable.

Some cocktail books include mocktails, or non-alcoholic beverage concoctions that are still fun and are a bit fancier than typical sodas or juices. This is a great option if you are hosting an event where not everyone will be drinking alcohol. If you are planning to gift a book with drink recipes to someone you don’t know well, you should be sure it contains plenty of non-alcoholic options. After all, you don’t know what someone’s history with alcohol or preference for consumption might be.

There are a lot of fun ways to package your cocktail recipe book if you are giving it as a gift. You can pair it with a cocktail shaker, cocktail glasses or even a bottle of liquor. If you really want to get creative, you can create a gift basket with all the ingredients needed to make one of the recipes from the book.

• When buying a cocktail book, make sure it has plenty of recipes that involve ingredients you or your gift recipient like. For instance, if you hate gin, don’t buy a book that has mostly gin drinks.
• If you have any allergies, vet your cocktail recipes carefully. If possible, make a note on the offending pages so you or a guest never accidentally make a drink that you’d be allergic to.
• Keep your drink books near your liquor cabinet or old-fashioned glasses. When you’re having a fancy night in and are looking for something a bit different to try, this reminder can help you spice things up.
• Be willing to experiment! The best cocktails may not always be the ones that sound good on paper. Part of the fun of mixology comes from the ways flavors meld and yield delicious beverages in ways you might not expect.
• If you find a drink you really like, make a note or mark your book. (That goes double for ones you dislike!)