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Whether you are a professional mixologist or novice bartender, a book of classic cocktail recipes and/or an extensive bar guide will always come in handy.
Below we are featuring some of our favorite cocktail recipe books that feature a ton of the greatest cocktail recipes, from classic to modern drinks and even some variations. These books are loaded with essential knowledge from the ideal tools, techniques, ingredients, and mixing tips you will ever need. Some even contain beloved histories of your favorite libations.
You will also get fun facts with clever cocktail trivia, great drinking songs, and illustrations that show precisely what type of glass should be used for each drink. And, if you have been drinking at home more than usual these days, you will learn the best way to create a fully stocked bar at home for you and your friends to enjoy.
Our Favorite Cocktail Recipe Book
Mittie Hellminch Bar Book — Best Overall
As a James Beard nominee for Best Wine and Spirit Book, this ultimate bar book is an indispensable guide to over 1000 classic cocktails and new drink recipes that can be made in the comfort of your own home. This book is also filled with illustrations to show precisely what type of glass should be used for each drink and even includes non-alcoholic beverages as well.
Pros
- This book also includes a selection of hangover remedies
- The sultry cover looks great displayed on any bar cart
Cons
- This book may have very small print
Amy Traynor Bar Book — Runner Up
If you are a mixologist at heart, this essential book will help you set up a well-stocked bar. This book will provide you with a guide that covers the key ingredients, tools, techniques, and glassware you will need to become a master mixologist in the comfort of your own space. Choose from over 70 classic and creative recipes sorted by liquor type, plus learn some home bartender hacks to help make do in a pinch.
Pros
- This book also includes cocktail trivia, famous bartenders, drinking songs, and more
- Contains recipes for both classic drinks and newer favorites
Cons
- This book has no spots for taking or making notes
The Big Book of Bourbon Cocktails Recipe Book — Best Bourbon Cocktails
Get your Halloween or football party started with this book of bourbon cocktails from author Amy Zavatto. Whether you’re an aspiring cocktail aficionado or an experienced bartender looking to expand your portfolio, this book has it all. It has recipes like a traditional Old Fashioned, a Churchill Downs Crusta, and 98 more cocktails to make sure you can find at least one you will absolutely love.
The whole book is cataloged based on flavor profile, including savory, tart, hot, frosty, fruity, decadent, and even party punches for your next event. The book also has directions to make your own grenadines and syrups from scratch to really impress your guests. It includes the history of bourbon and how recipes were born from the Prohibition Era.
Pros
- Organized based on flavor profile
- Has 100 cocktail recipes
- Great for beginners or aficionados
Cons
- Specific just to bourbon
Dale DeGroff Book — Honorable Mention
First published in 2002, this was one of the first real cocktail cookbooks and has since been fully revised and updated, featuring over 100 brand-new cocktail recipes, new photography, and up-to-date histories of the cocktail. This book still contains the older beloved histories, culture, tips and tricks, but they have all been newly revised to reflect the current time.
Pros
- The author gives his favorite liquor recommendations so you know which one will mix just right
- This book contains tips on how to elevate your basic cocktails
Cons
- If you are not a fan of craft cocktails, another option might be better
Parragon Books The Art of Mixology — Editor's Pick
This collection of classic and contemporary recipes offers a wide variety of cocktail recipes to make at home. You get over 200 classic and contemporary recipes to suit every occasion, every mood, and a photo for each drink will keep everyone excited to try new recipes. Lastly, an informative introduction provides all the essential knowledge any experienced or novice mixologist could ever need.
Pros
- To make the guide even easier, the drinks are grouped within sections
- This book also contains recipes for some delicious mocktails
Cons
- The different styled fonts may make the recipes slightly confusing
Tim Federle Tequila Mockingbird — Also Consider
Pour yourself a drink while brushing up on your literary knowledge with this unique guidebook. This bestselling book pairs cherished novels with both classic and cutting-edge cocktails and features 65 delicious drink recipes paired with commentary on history’s most beloved books. This fun bar book also includes bar bites and drinking game ideas.
Pros
- This book contains whimsical illustrations throughout
- It makes a great gift for the bookworm in your life
Cons
- There are not a ton of recipes in the book
Buying Guide: Cocktail Recipe Books
The top cocktail recipe books in 2024 are an excellent addition to any recipe book collection. If you love hosting parties or want to make your date night more interesting, you should purchase a cocktail recipe book.
A cocktail recipe book is an affordable item that can make the world of difference to your hosting events. Cocktail recipe books will teach you how to make some classics as well as some new creations. They will also give you advice on what accessories to purchase and how to best present a cocktail.
There are many cocktail recipe books on the market and choosing the best one might seem like a difficult task. However, there are several considerations you can make to narrow down your search. Continue reading to see what we suggest.
Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Cocktail Recipe Book
Number of cocktails
Consider how many cocktails the recipe book contains. The more recipes the better. However, more recipes mean a larger book, or smaller print and pictures.
Size
Choosing a small cocktail recipe book will allow you to take the book to the store. This saves you from making a shopping list of the ingredients you will need. Alternatively, you may prefer a larger book that will look stylish in your home.
Cocktails you love
Choosing a cocktail recipe book containing some of the cocktails you love means it is likely the book will contain other cocktails that will match your tastes.
Cocktails you’ve never heard of
On the other hand, you could choose a recipe book containing more recipes you do not know. You may want to purchase a book with cocktails you have heard of. Alternatively, you can choose a book full of cocktails you have never heard of but look interesting to you.
Easy to follow table of contents
There should be a clear table of contents in the book, so you can easily find a specific recipe. Cocktails may be listed alphabetically. They may also be listed by the spirit they contain, or the flavor, such as sweet, sour, or creamy.
Large, easily visible writing
Choose a book with easy-to-see writing. Large print options may be available if needed. This is especially important if you will be enjoying a cocktail or two while creating more cocktails.
Beautiful photographs and artwork
The cocktail recipe book should be pleasant to look at. The book should visually display the finished cocktail, so you can see how best to present it. Some books have step-by-step instructions in photograph or illustration form.
Particular spirit-based recipes
If there is a particular spirit you prefer over other spirits, you could look for a cocktail recipe book with recipes that solely use that spirit. Gin cocktail recipe books have become particularly popular in recent years.
Cocktails to suit all tastes
Consider how much you will use the book to make cocktails for other people. If you know what sort of cocktails your loved ones enjoy, consider looking for a book containing the recipes for those cocktails. It is likely you will entertain people in the future who will appreciate a wide range of choices.
Non-alcoholic cocktails
It is always useful to have some non-alcoholic cocktail options for the days you do not feel like drinking alcohol. You can make these with the kids or grandkids as a fun activity.
Bartender hacks
Some recipe books include bartender hacks that allow you to cut corners when you are short of ingredients or time.
Easy to source ingredients
Consider the ingredients used in the recipe book. Think about how easily accessible the ingredients are. If you choose a recipe book full of expensive and difficult-to-source ingredients, you will not use the book very often. Opt for a book with mostly affordable ingredients with a few more expensive and exotic cocktail recipes included.
Writer of the recipe book
Many people choose a recipe book based on who the author is. If there is a particular celebrity chef you love, you could search the internet to see if they have made a cocktail recipe book.
Space for your own recipes
You may want to look for a recipe book with blank pages at the end so you can write down some of your own cocktail recipes.
Binder
Choosing a binder-type cocktail recipe book will allow you to add pages to the book. This means you can print recipes from the internet, or write down your own, and place them in a location that is well ordered.
Cocktail Recipe Book: Price Range
A cocktail recipe book can cost from as little as $7 and as much as $30. You can also get cocktail recipe books included in Kindle and other Ebook subscription services.
How We Choose the Top Cocktail Recipe Books
To choose the top cocktail recipe books we consider the following:
- Number of cocktails
- How nice the cocktails taste
- Presentation
- Easy-to-follow instructions
- Cost
- Customer reviews
