These ‘templates’ each feature a core ingredient, balancing components and seasonings that have been swopped out and expanded upon to create just about all the drinks we know and love today. Sometimes the carbonated ingredient is sweet, omitting the need for another sweetener, such as with the Cuba libre which is made with rum, fresh lime juice and cola or the Moscow mule, made with vodka, lime juice and ginger beer or ginger ale. It can also be savory, such as with tomato juice in the bloody Mary. Now depending on what you’re looking for, or your knowledge level, this may or may not be exactly what you’re looking for. The book is also a nice size/weight, great for a coffee table or tofu press, with excellent crisp design and pretty high-contrast photographs. I remember the first time I came into Jeff’s bar Pepe Le Moko and I said “have any drinks you’re really excited about right now?”

Something else to keep in mind about drinking alcohol is that older adults who regularly drink it have a perceived better quality of life. Researchers in Germany found that people over 60 who enjoy drinking experience improved mobility, self-care, and fewer problems undertaking daily activities compared to those who don’t drink or only have an occasional beverage. “Our study finds that older patients with potentially unhealthy alcohol intake report that some aspects of their quality of life are better compared to those who abstain from alcohol or drink at very low levels,” says Vera Guttenthaler from University Hospital Bonn. The presentation is phenomenal, and the more expensive version that comes in a presentation box is stunning. It’s a great collection of classics, riffs on classics, and a pretty beefy collection of tiki drinks, which I always love to see. Its formula always includes a spirit, something sour and orange liqueur, such as triple sec or brand names Cointreau and Grand Marnier. His response: “Well I made all the ones on that menu right there, so I’m pretty excited about each of those.”

The Extended Daiquiri Family

What I love about this book is that there’s a little bit of everything, but it’s all generally very accessible. Well, the Aviary book is just as impressive as the bar and the drinks themselves – it’s also just as expensive. Rather what you’ll find is a wonderful book of a few hundred interesting, unique, and delicious drinks. While the newer Dead Rabbit book I mentioned above is probably a better fit for most home bartenders (there are more recipes, and many of them are a bit easier to make), I’d be remiss if I left out their original book: The Dead Rabbit Drinks Menu. This isn’t the book I’d recommend to a total newbie, but if there’s someone in your life who is ready to up their drink game a bit? This is a wonderful addition to the library.

Unfortunately, the NoMad Hotel NYC closed recently, and took one of my favorite bars along with it.This makes it one of the most accessible books on the list. It also will give you a great appreciation for how small changes can have a big impact on a drink.

Aviary does that in bar form. Take this drink from the now defunct Aviary NYC called “Boom Goes the Dynamite” for example: “Boon Goes the Dynamite”– Ironically this one isn’t even in the book. Although “The Joy of Mixology” has no photos, it is very thorough. Its chart system is reason enough to read this guide. “It’s a hefty guide to the methods and madness bartenders must adopt to be successful in the business and includes a brief history of the mixed drink, helpful tools and glassware, and most importantly, a breakdown of drink families. Regan’s chart system helps teach how drinks are classified into different categories, which makes it easier to remember how to make certain styles of drink and spin them off into new creations of your own,” states Serious Eats . Variations on the flip can include two spirits or liqueurs, such as the white Russian (vodka and coffee liqueur), eggnog (rum and cognac) and the piña colada (light and dark rum).I actually first heard about the book from Shingo Gokan, who is in it, while we were sitting in his bar the SG Club in Tokyo. Hey man, this old-fashioned wasn’t prepared the right way. I need Demerara syrup, not a sugar cube. A big cube not bar ice, and for the love of God, why is there a muddled maraschino cherry in my drink?” They’re always unbelievably well done, and I can’t help but buy one every time there is a new one out. What I love about it is that there are unique and complex drinks in the book, but nearly all of them are very simple to make.

The basis of this drink has also yielded other classics like the Mint Julep and delightful variations on the same theme that include the wonderfully cosy Apple Butter Old Fashioned . 2. Daiquiri They are the Old Fashioned, Martini, Daiquiri, Sidecar, Whiskey Highball, and Flip. In each drink, every ingredient falls into at least one category. Core is the primary flavor; balance enhances the core with sweetness, acidity, or both; and seasoning adds another dimension and complements or contrasts with the core. Keep in mind that what feels disjointed to one person might taste magnificent to the next, so experiment until you find your personal preferences. “If you like something, then you’re right,” Tarby says. They’re on their 6th or 7th iteration of their elaborate graphic novel menus, which you could literally spend an hour or two reading, soaking in, and contemplating which drink to get.

Mojoto | A Minty Refreshing Cocktail

Flips basically consist of any fortified wine or liquor shaken with a whole egg or cream, and sweetened with sugar. They are typically garnished with a dusting of nutmeg or another warming spice, and yields dreamily creamy drinks like the White Russian , Eggnog and Pina Colada.