You've got the gorgeous glassware, a shaker and a cupboard full of booze but what cocktail do you mix? There are endless variations and if you're new to the world of cocktails, things can get very confusing. Even experienced quaffers like ourselves need a little guidance so we thought we'd share some of our favourite cocktail books. Let's start with the classics.
Every home bar should have a copy of The Savoy Cocktail Book. Written by Harry Craddock, head bartender at the famous American Bar The Savoy Hotel in London during the 1920s and 30s, it contains more than 700 recipes, some created by Craddock himself. It's not the easiest book to navigate as it's organised largely in alphabetical order but it's a wonderful introduction the world of classic cocktails and a piece of history in its own right.
Harry McElhone was another fabled bartender from the same era. He worked in Paris before the First World War and later moved to New York where he founded his eponymous bar in 1923. Harry's ABC of Mixing Cocktails is a no-nonsense recipe book and probably not for you if you're looking for tips on setting up your home bar. It is, however, packed full of classic recipes, many invented by Harry himself, including Muddled favourites the White Lady and Sidecar.
If you're looking to deepen your understanding of the art of mixology, then track down a copy of David Embury's brilliant 1948 book The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks which is now sadly out of print. Embury was a lawyer rather than a bartender but he was absolutely passionate about cocktails. His book is witty and erudite. It explains why certain combinations work and contains lots of recipes as well as helpful information about different kinds of glassware and bar equipment.
If you're looking for a more modern, comprehensive guide to help you master the basics, we have two suggestions. The first is Larousse Cocktails, which contains everything from advice on equipment to ideas for snacks. This was actually the first cocktail book I bought and because the recipes are organised according to their principal ingredient, it's super-easy to navigate for beginners.
Written by Adrienne Stillman and published by Phaidon, Spirited is another good option. It contains more than 600 recipes plus practical advice and history. Recipes are organised according to cocktail style and there’s a very helpful index.
If we had to choose just one book, it would be The Cocktail Edit by Alice Lascelles. We’re huge fans of her work here at Muddled HQ. She’s down-to-earth, funny and really knows her stuff. The Cocktail Edit is built around a capsule collection of 12 cocktails, each with several variations. It’s the perfect choice for beginners.
We’d also like to mention to Alice’s latest book, The Martini, which is a deep dive into the world’s most famous cocktail. It also happens to feature some of Muddled’s gorgeous vintage glassware.
And now for a couple of honourable mentions: Regarding Cocktails draws on the work of the late, legendary bartender Sasha Petraske who founded New York’s celebrated speakeasy bar Milk & Honey. As well as s recipe book, it’s a tribute to the man who’s credited with revolutionising cocktail culture in the 2000s.
If classics are more your thing (and they’re very much mine) then Cecil Beaton’s Cocktail Book should definitely be on your radar. Published to coincide with the Bright Young Things exhibition at the NPG a few years ago, it’s a tribute to The Roaring Twenties with recipes from the former head of Claridge’s Bar, Denis Broci.
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