Complete Home Bartender's Guide: 780 Recipes for the Perfect Drink

I found a used copy of this book at a local bookstore, and bought it out of sheer curiosity. I knew nothing prior to mixing drinks or even how to use a shaker, and was thoroughly amused at how drinking enthusiasts around the world could come up with 780 unique -- and sometimes downright perverse and ridiculous -- names for the world's finest cocktails. There are two things that I love about this book -- it's brilliantly arranged as a reference guide, and it's geared for both the entry-level hobbyist and the more experienced enthusiast in mind. Unlike many other bartender guides that are tiny paperbacks or printed on thicker paper that is harder to flip-through, Salvatore Calabrese's book is built like a true index in mind: it's a hard-cover with spiral-bound pages inside printed on glossy color paper. The 780 drinks are divided into logical categories (brandy, rum, wine, vodka, shooters, punches, nonalcoholic, etc.) and each drink's mixing instructions are designed to be read in less than 30 seconds. As a quick reference, I have not seen a book that is better written with clarity and brevity in mind. Any book I'm willing to pay for as an introduction into a hobby needs to me interested with the history, the basics on how-tos, and the fine science of becoming an enthusiast. The book's opening chapters cover everything from tools & equipment, glassware, and bar terminology to flavors & garnishes, proper techniques for juicing limes, and how to properly use ice! Nearly every single recipe includes a brief history as to where the naming scheme caming from, and there's some description to the regional origins of certain spirits and bases as well. I'm not planning on becoming a professional bartender, but if I were going to, I'd imagine this text would easily be one of the required reads and "keeper" books for someone truly interested in pursuing a long-term education into the fine art of drink mixing.

This book is fantastic. I love the way it organizes drinks according to type: vodka, rum, etc... It also gives you lots of basics on how to set up a bar from glasses, to terms, to techniques. The thing I love the best is that for each drink it not only tells you how to prepare it but there is also a little picture on the side that tells you which type of glass to serve it in and how to garnish. A great find!!

This book is well laid out and lists the ingredient information as well as what glasses go w/ what drink etc. This book has all the added touches to assist you in becoming a great home bartender, such as pictures so you will build up confidence and the binder is wonderful since you can turn to a page and it stays! I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys entertaining or just wants to impress their friends with great drinks!

This is a great bartender's book. It has all the drinks, nicely indexed by liquor type, illustrations of the proper glasses, and instructions on how to stock your own bar. Just as importantly: it has a SPIRAL BINDING. This is key, because it stays open to the same page when you're trying to mix a drink. If you're like me, you need both hands to work on the drink, not hold the book open. Try that with Mr. Boston's and it'll drive you crazy!! Seriously!

The book is well organized into sections of Brandy, Gin, Rum, ... as well as indexed by drink name. The book also contains informative descriptions and history of various spirits. Top-notch book. Buy it.