They make the point that, once you understand the hows and whys of each “family,” you’ll understand why certain ingredients will find balance versus not, when to use one technique instead of another, when you can employ the Mr. “Cocktail Codex” accomplishes this by giving readers six different cocktail templates, from which all cocktails can be traced back to: the Old-Fashioned, Martini, Daiquiri, Sidecar, Whisky Highball, and flip.
team for both experienced bartenders looking to refine their craft by learning new techniques that they may be unfamiliar with, such as carbonating cocktails, various syrup-making methods, or the role of acid types in cocktail-making or for new bartenders who could benefit from some foundational knowledge, such as how the Old-Fashioned is related to the Sherry Cobbler, Sazerac, and Ti’ Punch, and how to think about cocktail structure.Ĭocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions Here are five essential books every bartender should read: “Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions” by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, David Kaplan, and Devon Tarby ( Amazon: $26.51)Ī James Beard Award winner in 2019, winner of the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for best new cocktail or bartending book, and also named one of the best cookbooks of the year by Chicago Tribune, Cocktail Codex is an absolute must-read written by the Death & Co. Whether you want to brush up on how to properly build a round of drinks, understand a bit more about dilution and temperature as it relates to the optimal cocktail, or just learn more about a specific spirit category, there are many books to choose from to help you with your bartending knowledge.
It’s easy to get stuck in the cycle of work and play, so taking a step back to stay educated beyond cocktail specs and service related to your establishment is important, especially during a time that we could consider the golden age of drink-related literature. When it comes to bartending, knowledge really is power.
As an ongoing initiative, we’ve launched a new series called Raise Your Spirits-geared toward bringing bartenders useful and helpful information centered on wellness, professional development, and overall assistance during this difficult time.