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The Ultimate Bar Book: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Cocktails
The Ultimate Bar Book is a guide to classic cocktails and new drink recipes. Loaded with essential-to-know topics such as barware, tools, and mixing tips.
Illustrations show precisely what type of glass should be used for each drink. With dozens of recipes for garnishes, rims, infusions, and syrups; punches, gelatin shooters, hot drinks, and non-alcoholic beverages; and let's not forget an essential selection of hangover remedies.
A James Beard nominee for Best Wine and Spirit Book.
Illustrations show precisely what type of glass should be used for each drink. With dozens of recipes for garnishes, rims, infusions, and syrups; punches, gelatin shooters, hot drinks, and non-alcoholic beverages; and let's not forget an essential selection of hangover remedies.
A James Beard nominee for Best Wine and Spirit Book.
476 pages, Hardcover
First published February 16, 2006
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August 12, 2015After a few pages it gets a bit blurry
February 11, 2012
As a cocktail guide this book has many virtues. It perhaps falls a little short of being the ultimate bar book, however.
Physically, the book is a small (5 1/2" x 7"), robustly packaged hardback with covers that spilt drinks should wipe off. Its size makes it easy to carry and find space for. However, it also means that the writing is necessarily small and the book tends to close easily rather than staying open - inconvient if you want to remind yourself of an ingredient whilst mixing.
The guide is very thorough. It is divided into sections by different types of drinks: beers & sakes, brandies, sparkling wines, ordinary wines, gins, liquers, rums, tequilas, vodkas and whiskies, along with a couple more, all get their own sections. Each section starts with a discussion of that particular drink, so the brandy section tells one about the different types of Cognac, the differences to Armagnac and other brandy-like styles from Calvados to Grappa to Pisco brandy. Whilst short, these sections are informative and useful. For those of us who aren't drinks experts there are likely to be a few interesting nuggets of information. Particularly apparent in these sections is the fact that the book is written from a U.S. perspective and availabilities of different drinks are bound to vary as a result.
Each section then moves onto the cocktails that can be made from the drink type under discussion. The guide has plenty of recipes: I can't see myself running out of new drinks to mix simply with this one guide any time soon. None of the recipes are complicated, some are rather more unusual than in other cocktail books.
Many of the cocktails come with a short description of origins of the drink mix; classic coctktails (such as the Martini, Sidecar, French 75, Daiquiri, Old Fashioned or Manhattan) get their own little sections spelling out something of the history of the drink as well as recipes and variations. These are much appreciated and lift the book from something more than a selection of recipes, giving the potent cococtions their sheen of glamour. Each cocktail also comes with a symbol showing the type of glass to use to serve it - a nice touch.
A disadvantage of this layout is that cocktails that contain more than one type of liquor consequently show up multiple times under each ingredient. Interestingly, the recipes given are often ever so slightly different. Also, whilst comprehensive in terms of recipes and ingredients, it does not look at cocktails in terms of the styles of mixing. The Bompas and Parr cocktail book, for instance, whilst nothing like as comprehensive, scores to some extent because it looks at styles of mixes as well the specific ingredients for each cocktail.
Other sections include a very thorough look at cocktail equipment and advice on 'Smooth Entertaining'. Personally, I'm not sure these add very much.
Recommended, then, for its comprehensive nature and easy to follow cocktail recipes.
Physically, the book is a small (5 1/2" x 7"), robustly packaged hardback with covers that spilt drinks should wipe off. Its size makes it easy to carry and find space for. However, it also means that the writing is necessarily small and the book tends to close easily rather than staying open - inconvient if you want to remind yourself of an ingredient whilst mixing.
The guide is very thorough. It is divided into sections by different types of drinks: beers & sakes, brandies, sparkling wines, ordinary wines, gins, liquers, rums, tequilas, vodkas and whiskies, along with a couple more, all get their own sections. Each section starts with a discussion of that particular drink, so the brandy section tells one about the different types of Cognac, the differences to Armagnac and other brandy-like styles from Calvados to Grappa to Pisco brandy. Whilst short, these sections are informative and useful. For those of us who aren't drinks experts there are likely to be a few interesting nuggets of information. Particularly apparent in these sections is the fact that the book is written from a U.S. perspective and availabilities of different drinks are bound to vary as a result.
Each section then moves onto the cocktails that can be made from the drink type under discussion. The guide has plenty of recipes: I can't see myself running out of new drinks to mix simply with this one guide any time soon. None of the recipes are complicated, some are rather more unusual than in other cocktail books.
Many of the cocktails come with a short description of origins of the drink mix; classic coctktails (such as the Martini, Sidecar, French 75, Daiquiri, Old Fashioned or Manhattan) get their own little sections spelling out something of the history of the drink as well as recipes and variations. These are much appreciated and lift the book from something more than a selection of recipes, giving the potent cococtions their sheen of glamour. Each cocktail also comes with a symbol showing the type of glass to use to serve it - a nice touch.
A disadvantage of this layout is that cocktails that contain more than one type of liquor consequently show up multiple times under each ingredient. Interestingly, the recipes given are often ever so slightly different. Also, whilst comprehensive in terms of recipes and ingredients, it does not look at cocktails in terms of the styles of mixing. The Bompas and Parr cocktail book, for instance, whilst nothing like as comprehensive, scores to some extent because it looks at styles of mixes as well the specific ingredients for each cocktail.
Other sections include a very thorough look at cocktail equipment and advice on 'Smooth Entertaining'. Personally, I'm not sure these add very much.
Recommended, then, for its comprehensive nature and easy to follow cocktail recipes.
July 21, 2020
Don't judge me.
June 25, 2015
This book is incredible! I was given this as a gift in a cookbook exchange.
The first part is all about what you need to stock a basic bar (let me tell you, it's quite daunting for a beginner like me). There's examples of glasses, liquors, equipment and even a section for various measurements (what does a dash really mean?).
Then it goes into some other stuff before coming to the gist of the book: the spirits and drinks. The cocktails are all arranged by type of liquor. Certain famous cocktails have several pages devoted to them, with a brief history, classical way of preparing it and more common variations.
Some interesting cocktails / things that jumped out at me while browsing:
- Slippery Nipple: Bailey's Irish Cream + sambuca
- Barcardi Cocktails are only allowed to be made with Barcardi rum (as ruled by a New York court in 1936).
- Angel's Tit: white creme de cacao+ heavy cream topped with a maraschino cherry.
There's so much more. I could just keep going and going. I have a feeling this book will get a fair amount of use this summer! (And for the next many years).
The first part is all about what you need to stock a basic bar (let me tell you, it's quite daunting for a beginner like me). There's examples of glasses, liquors, equipment and even a section for various measurements (what does a dash really mean?).
Then it goes into some other stuff before coming to the gist of the book: the spirits and drinks. The cocktails are all arranged by type of liquor. Certain famous cocktails have several pages devoted to them, with a brief history, classical way of preparing it and more common variations.
Some interesting cocktails / things that jumped out at me while browsing:
- Slippery Nipple: Bailey's Irish Cream + sambuca
- Barcardi Cocktails are only allowed to be made with Barcardi rum (as ruled by a New York court in 1936).
- Angel's Tit: white creme de cacao+ heavy cream topped with a maraschino cherry.
There's so much more. I could just keep going and going. I have a feeling this book will get a fair amount of use this summer! (And for the next many years).
September 6, 2022
The effort that went into this little tome, both from Ms Hellmich and from designer ‘Warmbo’, is apparent: it feels great in the hand, it opens cleanly, it is devoid of filler photography, and it is navigable after a tolerably brief acclimation period. Unfortunately, this book was published in 2006—immediately before the full blossoming of the cocktail renaissance, and so many of the recipes are captured in an arbitrary transitional state. The Sidecar is underproof; the Negroni has soda; the French 75 has granulated sugar (sure to cause an eruption the second the Champagne is poured). It is impossible to recommend this book as an actual cocktail guide, but—oh!—do I admire the consideration that went in the creation of this textual and physical object.
February 13, 2020
Extremely useful book for a beginner bartender or someone who is trying to advance their knowledge about the science of spirits.
I picked up a load of useful information, cocktail recipes, history, and so much more. Will highly recommend it and after a month or two will come back to it to reread and refresh my memory on many facts I want to remember and use in my profession.
I picked up a load of useful information, cocktail recipes, history, and so much more. Will highly recommend it and after a month or two will come back to it to reread and refresh my memory on many facts I want to remember and use in my profession.
October 23, 2020
Love this book as a resource for cocktail making. I wish the background commentary on each type of alcohol had been a little more extensive (I was looking for a cover-to-cover book) but I still enjoyed it.
March 26, 2021
The only thing that would make this guide better is one of those built-in fabric bookmarks (or three!)
I have only had this a few months, but we are finding new drinks all the time. What do I feel like drinking tonight? Bourbon? OK! Let's go!
I have only had this a few months, but we are finding new drinks all the time. What do I feel like drinking tonight? Bourbon? OK! Let's go!
January 22, 2025
Much better organized than the bar guides I have read before. I bought the ebook version and appreciate being able to use the indexes for either name of drink or main ingredient. Much easier than propping a book open on the bar
August 9, 2017
The most comprehensive cocktail manual I've encountered that doesn't overextend itself. Artfully compiled.
February 23, 2018
Yet to meet a cocktail book that matches this. A joy to read, and essential for anyone who wants to mix drinks.
December 8, 2019
Lots of knowledge in a small package. Hardback, perfect reference book for the home bar. Finally made my way front-to-back (rather than purely as an occasional reference), and will be a keeper.
June 1, 2021
good educational
October 3, 2021
Good for any level of expertise. This book has all the classic recipes as well as many of the newer concoctions.
June 30, 2024
A very compelling book with many recipes for cocktails. A must-have for any bar affiliate.
July 22, 2024
Never a dull choice when you have a great bartender to make them for you.
June 28, 2025
I miss my book…
August 5, 2025
solid very thorough guide! tryna enter my bartender era fr
October 30, 2014
It was pretty good at explaining the origin of a lot of spirits and the history of famous cocktails. Although it gave nice descriptions of bar ware, it gave vague descriptions on actual techniques. It's a great base book to learn your way around a liquor store and understanding terms. Very great reference book for classic cocktails when in a rut and the internet tells you 20 different ways to make that very cocktail.
October 11, 2019
This is my go-to source of information whenever I want to make a drink for myself or when entertaining. Hellmich has arranged the recipes in chapter like sections by the base ingredient. These chapters provide a summary of the history and flavour profile of the base-drink. There are two comprehensive indexes at the end; one by ingredient, the other by drink name. The 'big classics' for each base-drink are given their own detailed sections with plenty of recipes for flavour variations.
September 10, 2007
This is fast becoming my favorite after-dinner reading, as well as my favorite before-dinner and post-work-upon-arrival-home reading. The best bar book I've had the pleasure of perusing and then using. Includes wonderful histories of many alcoholic beverages. The section on brandy is great, though not merely as fun as the many pages dedicated to tequila.
January 26, 2011
One of the most comprehensive and detailed reference of every ounce of alcohol created, with more recipes than one truly needs, and informative histories behind the famous, and infamous, beer, wine and spirits around. The size is an added bonus, easy for a non-drinker such as myself to know what to try, and which to avoid both at home or out with friends.
June 27, 2012
This book is very well laid out, and I really like the discussion of the history of the different spirits, how each is defined, and the ways they overlap (e.g., now that I know what aquavit is, I'm no longer confused about why my bottle of Brennivin is labeled "Icelandic schnapps" and tastes like flavored vodka).
February 10, 2016
Every drink you'll ever want to make/order and so much more is in this book. It saved me from having to ask what a cognac is, and now I know that there is actually a drink called a 'scooby snack'. I don't drink much, but it's fun to flip through. If I had a personal bar, I would look to it for ideas constantly.
June 18, 2015
This book is 100% correct to have comprehensive in its title. It's organized by type of alcohol and is just PACKED with information, and the recipes are well-organized, plainly laid out and easy to read. Terrific book.
June 16, 2016
A very interesting book detailing not only the history of the world's spirits, but also proper ways to enjoy their libations as well as recipes for the most and least known cocktails from all over the world. Very handy addition to my kitchen library.
April 18, 2008
A pretty awesome birthday gift. Thousands of drink recipes (some with fun facts), tips on mixing, basic bar equipment. Like the title says, it's comprehensive.
March 8, 2015
Learned a lot about liquor and cocktails from this book. Now I can make simple cocktails home anytime.
January 14, 2021
Great cocktails recipe book with a ton of great new and classics. I definitely marked a bunch of new cocktails I can not wait to try.
February 12, 2024
Easy to use guide to bartending. Has over 1,000 drink recipes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews