Are you the kind of person who only knows how to make a drink? Or maybe you’re already interested in mixology and trying to expand your skills? Either way, here are the best books to make you an epic mixologist!
Great Mixologist Books to Help Learn to Make Cocktails
These books have recipes and important skills for making cocktails and mixed drinks for yourself or all your friends. It’s a good idea to pick up a recipe book and some on the craft if you’re expanding your home mixology library. Here are my favorite books to make you an epic mixologist.
Death & Co. Modern Classic Cocktails
Inspired right from the creative bar staff of Death & Co., this book contains new modern classic cocktail recipes that go beyond what you’re probably familiar with. Learn how to make drinks pioneered by this destination bar like “Naked and Famous”.
The Craft of the Cocktail: Everything You Need to Know to Be a Master Bartender
This book is quite robust and perfect to turn a beginner bartender into a master. It starts with a bit of history and science (but not too dry), stocking your bar, tools and techniques, and 500 recipes to get you started.
The Home Bartender
This guide has quick and easy cocktails for a busy mixologist. What’s nice about this book is it doesn’t have you shopping for a bunch of different things to make the drinks.
The Mixology of Astrology
Whether you’re into astrology or not this book is a fun way to pick drinks! I don’t know about you, but I want to buy it just to see what drinks they suggest for my star sign…
The Art of Mixology Book
Of all the books to make you an epic mixologist, this book is beautifully laid out with over 200 classic cocktails and curious concoctions. It also contains pictures of each recipe and is laid out so you can easily find what you’re looking for.
The Bar Cart Bible
If you’re looking to stock your home bar this is the book you need. Not only does it tell you what to buy to stock your home bar with drinks, mixes, and accessories – but it also has some easy cocktail recipes to get you started.
The Joy of Mixology
Revised by influential mixologist Gary Regan this book is a classic bible for home bartenders and mixology enthusiasts. Not only does it have recipes there’s also some nice history and insight to the modern cocktail revival going on.
Handcrafted Bitters: Simple Recipes for Artisanal Bitters and the Cocktails That Love Them
Everything you need to get started making your own artisanal bitters! Take your cocktails to the next level with this book, which also tells you what kind of drinks to include them in.
The Everything Bartender’s Book
When they say everything they mean everything with this book. Not only will you find over 1000 cocktails including cocktails, frozen blender drinks, and even “virgin” options, but there are tips for choosing glassware and bar tools and even curing a hangover!
The Bar Book: Elements of Cocktail Technique
There’s a lot of recipe books out there but not many that focus mainly on the technique of cocktail making. This book will make you an epic mixologist with best practices for juicing, garnishing, carbonating, stirring and shaking, proper dilution, and more.
I’m Just Here for the Drinks book
Probably the cocktail recipe book with the most honest title, this would be a great addition to the library of any mixologist. Learn a bit of history about your favorite cocktails and then put them together with this selection of recipes. Oh, and the pictures are amazing.
The Complete Home Bartender’s Guide
It’s pretty impossible for any book to be a “complete” guide to anything but this book comes pretty darn close. With 830 recipes you’ll be forever trying out all these drinks – plus it contains illustrated guides to show different drink-making techniques.
The Drunken Botanist
Whether it’s rice, wheat, barley, potatoes, agave, corn, sugarcane, grapes, or something else – your favorite booze comes from plants. Aside from conventional, this book shares some of the strange plant’s humans have distilled, some dangerous, as well as recipes and growing tips for gardeners.
The Little Black Book of Cocktails
This fun little book is perfect to keep on hand if you like mixing drinks but don’t want anything too serious. There are a great variety and naughty sounding cocktails like “between the sheets,” “Naughty Elf,” and “french kiss”.
Be Your Own Bartender
This book is filled with dozens of flowcharts that will lead you to your perfect drink. A perfect novelty gift or fun idea to help discover yours and your friends’ new favourite cocktail.
Liquid Intelligence Book
Trying to master the art and science of the perfect cocktail? This book is definitely going to make you an epic mixologist with everything from freezing crystal clear ice cubes to using liquid nitrogen to spruce up your drinks.
The 12 Bottle Bar
This is a great introductory book if you’re just starting you home bar. You’d be surprised with all the drinks you can make with just 12 bottles!
Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist!
Drink like you have an English degree! This book is great for literary fans and is full of book-inspired mixed drink recipes including “The Last of the Mojitos” and “Romeo and Julep”.
Bartender’s Guide to Cocktails
It’s not quite a book but this quick study card can be as useful as one. If you want to impress your friends by memorizing recipes and being an epic mixologist these handy cards cover the basics. Or keep them behind your bar for a quick reference.
Batch Cocktails: Make-Ahead Pitcher Drinks for Every Occasion
Sometimes you need to make things in large quantities. This mixology book is great to prepare yourself for big groups by mastering pitcher-sized cocktails.
Cocktails of the Movies
This book has 64 of the greatest cocktails served up in movies, including the recipes. Great idea for your Oscar night party or just impressing your friends!
Preggatinis
This book is essential for any mixologist, especially one who’s at an age where all their friends are getting pregnant. Don’t leave someone who can’t drink out of the fun! This is also a great resource if you have kids and want to make some fancy mocktails.
The One-Bottle Cocktail
Are you one of those people who likes to buy just one type of alcohol? This book has recipes for just one bottle of your favourite booze.
The Classic & Craft Cocktail Recipe Book
This book has a little bit of everything – classic and craft cocktail recipes, some bartending 101, and a little bit of history. Great starting place for the amateur mixologist.
Forager’s Cocktails: Botanical Mixology with Fresh, Natural Ingredients
Whether you’re foraging in the wild, growing in your backyard, or shopping local farmers markets this book brings the great outdoors into your glass. Over 40 recipes divided by season and tips on how to forage the freshest and best tasting berries, herbs, and flowers for your drinks.
The Curious Bartender: An Odyssey of Malt, Bourbon & Rye Whiskies
This book explores the origin of whiskey and its over 2000 year old history. Reading this book will make you an expert on all things whiskey – perfect for any aspiring bartender or epic mixologist.
Bartending for Dummies
You might not be a dummy but these books are popular for a reason. If you’re a fan of the “For Dummies” format then bartending for dummies might break mixology down in ways you can understand better than just a recipe.
Hanky Panky: The Naughty Cocktails of Prohibition
A little bit of history definitely makes you more of an epic mixologist. Grab this book and explore some great recipes and how they survived through prohibition all by a world famous restaurateur.
What the F**K Should I Drink?
From the people who brought you “What the F should I make for dinner?” comes this handy cocktail reference book. It has a choose your own adventure style recipe guide and easy to mix drinks – perfect after a long day.
Imbibe! Updated and Revised Edition
Imbibe serves as a homage to Jerry Thomas, the father of the American bar. This new edition contains the origins of the first american drink – the Mint Julep!
The Dead Rabbit Drinks Manual
The Dead Rabbit in Lower Manhattan is well awarded including “world’s best bar” so it’s no surprise they have a killer cocktail book as well. Not only is it full of recipes from the bar, it also contains the rags to riches story of the bar’s founders.
The Thinking Girl’s Guide to Drinking
This is the ultimate guide to drinking for women who enjoy a clean or health-minded diet, but still, want to have a drink. These recipes include superfoods, vitamins and nutrients, and whole foods so you can stick to your diet and drink in moderation.
The Essential Cocktail: The Art of Mixing Perfect Drinks
Cocktails are truly an art – and this guide tells you everything you need to know on the subject of mixing perfect drinks. This book is all about using new, fresh ingredients instead of pre-made mixes.
Proof: The Science of Booze
Creating alcohol is one of the oldest sciences, and yet it’s severely understudied. This bestselling book unwraps some of the best booze technology including the chemicals that makes it up and what it is about humans that makes us want it. A must-read for anyone who loves alcohol and its craft.
Wild Cocktails from the Midnight Apothecary
This book is so much more than adding the wild to your cocktails. Not only are there recipes and foraging tips, it also explores the equipment and techniques for making infusions and syrups.
The Ultimate Bar Book
Sometimes you just need a big book that has all the cocktail recipes you’ll ever need. This ultimate guide has over 1000 cocktail recipes as well as essentials like barware, tools, and mixing tips.
Smuggler’s Cove: Exotic Cocktails, Rum, and the Cult of Tiki
This book is full of everything you’ve ever wanted to know, and more, about the origins and renaissance of tiki bars with a hearty serving of rum history to tie it all together. Oh yeah, and plenty of great cocktail recipes for a Polynesian themed party.
See Mix Drink
Sometimes it’s hard to follow a recipe, especially when you’re trying to figure out what those instructions mean. This book breaks it down into infographics so you can easily see how to mix some classic drinks. There’s never been an easier way to become a mixologist.
The Aviary Cocktail Book
Sometimes the lines between book and art can be blurred and this is one of those cases. This amazing cocktail book is beautifully laid out and full of gorgeous photography. This is perfect not only for your collection but also makes a phenomenal gift for someone at any level of mixology skills.
There might be millions of recipes on the internet but nothing will ever top owning a book. Add to your library or get started with these amazing books to make you an epic mixologist.
