Here at Spirited Miami, we love to imbibe on a good cocktail but one thing we value as much is continuing our education on the history and teachings of the cocktail world.
Every year, we get to enjoy more and more cocktail information, and this year, I don’t think anyone is stopping the trend of awesome cocktail books!
Here are our top picks of cocktail books for the Fall season (we see some Spirited Nominations between these pages):
Good Things to Drink with Mr Lyan and Friends
By: Ryan Chetiyawardana (Author), Kim Lightbody (Photographer)
Release Date: September 21, 2015
Details: Mr Lyan wants you to know that you do not have to be one of the best bartenders in the world to make an amazing cocktail. This guide explores 60 cocktails with stunning photography and gives you a cocktail option for anytime, anyday, anywhere. Mr Lyan is behind White Lyan and Dandelyan, two of the best bars in the world (London).
The Dead Rabbit Drinks Manual: Secret Recipes and Barroom Tales from Two Belfast Boys Who Conquered the Cocktail World
By: Sean Muldoon (Author), Jack McGarry (Author), Ben Schaffer (Author)
Release Date: October 13th, 2015
Details: From what is considered the World’s Best Bar by the Spirited Awards in 2015, Sean and Jack bring you a drinks manual like no other. From World’s Best Bar to World’s Best Cocktail menu, Sean and Jack have done it all. And now their first drinks collection is wrapped up in this manual. Each cocktail has its own historical interpretation along with beautiful photography and tales from behind the bar at the Dead Rabbit in Lower Manhattan. Has it been released? No. Is it good? Yes, we know it is.
Drinking the Devil’s Acre: A Love Letter from San Francisco and her Cocktails
By: Duggan McDonnell (Author)
Release Date: September 15th, 2015
Details: Already an Amazon Best Book of the Month, Duggan explores cocktails through his own memoir with spirited history sprinkled in. The Devil’s Acre was a block full of Saloons based on the Barbary Coast of vintage San Francisco. This book contains 25 legendary cocktails made famous by San Francisco as well as 45 extra cocktails and some of Duggan’s secrets. Great to have around the house and host guests through the history of the Golden Gate City.
Bitterman’s Field Guide to Bitters & Amari: 500 Bitters; 50 Amari; 123 Recipes for Cocktails, Food & Homemade Bitters
By: Mark Bitterman
Release Date: October 27th, 2015
Details: Wait, is your name Mark Bitterman? And you’re writing a book about Bitters? Well then, yes, we’re in! All jokes aside, we feel this will be the go-to book on bitters. The market for bitters has exploded into hundreds of selections. The days of Angostura only are gone. This definitive guide leads you in the right direction with wonderful photography and great knowledge. There are even recipes to create bitters and wow your significant other at home (we know, she’s bitter about it!). With tasting notes to boot, you found your guide to get you in the right place when it comes to bitter and amari selection.
Gin: The Manual
By: Dave Broom (Author)
Release Date: October 6th, 2015
Details: Dave Broom is one of the leading experts on spirits and is the 2015 Spirited Award Recipient for Best Cocktail & Spirits Writer. Basically, this guy knows what he’s talking about. Here he talks about the world of gin from beginning to end with great literary skill. Expect to become very well versed on one of the more popular spirits with bartenders around the world. Here Dave covers gin in a unique way, by testing it in cocktails and rates accordingly. I trust this one as a go-t0 guide for anything gin. Expect this to be a consideration for a Spirited Award in 2016.
The Tippling Bros. A Lime and a Shaker: Discovering Mexican-Inspired Cocktails
By: Tad Carducci (Author), Paul Tanguay (Author), Alia Akkam (Author)
Release Date: April 21, 2015
Details: Tad and Paul are the founders of the Tippling Bros., a drink consultancy company. Besides that, the Tippling Bros. are partners in Mercadito Hospitality, where they make fantastic Mexican-inspired cocktails. They are also partner in the industry website ShakeStir.com and CocktailCourier.com, a full service cocktail delivery service. Are they busy? Yes. Do they know what they’re talking about? Double yes. Expect complex cocktails that can be enjoyed for any occasion.
There you have it folks, here are some great guides for recipes, history and educational information from cocktail enthusiast to the expert barman. Expect these in our permanent library!