Classic Cocktails Done Well: Tried-and-True Recipes for the Home Bartender

I found a number of qualities particularly needed by a total mixing newcomer in this book which are extremely rare to find in other resources, let alone all in one place. I think a lot of the joy in the hobby comes from playing around and trying new things, and I feel like this book can give a newcomer the knowledge and confidence they need to do so.- The book opens with a brief review of the major families of mixed drinks. The cocktail families are such a simple concept but give a framework for new learners to work in that allows them to experiment without feeling overwhelmed.- The recipe list is carefully selected to give a wide variety without having to go back to the store every day to pick up a new exotic ingredient, and all of the ingredients used in the book are presented in one place.- Speaking of ingredients, going to the liquor store the first time and realizing how many options exist for every last thing you need to buy can also be extremely intimidating. The one or two name brands this book provides as a starting point could be a great help for anyone that suffers from decision paralysis like me.- There are pictures for each cocktail. Presentation is difficult, and without seeing a lot of different ways to include garnishes a beginner can feel lost with what to do with a lemon peel or what-not- There is a straight-forward, detailed description of each of the actual techniques applied in making mixed drinks. This is a shockingly rare thing in many drink guides and there are many details a person can totally miss if just watching youtube videos or something.- The book also provides a complete list of equipment and glassware needed, both as a complete list in the first chapter as well as in each recipe. It seems like a minor point, but I can't count the number of times I've finished shaking a drink before remembering I needed a peeler or cocktail pick and it is currently dirty.- The references section gives the reader additional resources for ideas and a few different directions to go in after they have built up some confidence and want to try some more specialty or modern drinks.I wish this sort of book was available when I was first learning how to make and serve cocktails. I remember the confusion and struggle of reading through Mr. Boston and other traditional drink guides: wondering if I did everything right, realizing at the last second that I didn't have the right tools or glassware, overwhelmed by the huge variety of drinks that each had one ingredient I did not own or had never heard of, and unsure which cocktails were actually worth trying. I browsed the internet tirelessly to fill in the gaps which helped considerably, but I was constantly sifting through a lot of trends, marketing, and questionable takes which made the whole process much more difficult than it needed to be. And they still didn't mention all the little techniques you need to be aware of to pull a recipe all together! I had to figure that all out through trial and error. I'm happy to see that newcomers to the cocktail mixing world now have a resource like this which would allow them to bypass all of that pain.

A random tidbit before getting to the bulk of the review: the cover of the book feels silky smooth. I love it.Faith explains history and cocktail making with such ease, you can see her passion seeping through her words. The book is structured so welcomely, from explaining cocktail styles, ingredients (core spirits, liqueurs and wine, bitters, modifiers), classic tools, glassware, and to techniques. It’s very inviting and there’s even recommendations for options on what to purchase and what to avoid if you are overwhelmed.Onto the actual recipes themselves, Faith chose a purposeful assessable curated list of 75 that any beginner or advanced enthusiast can enjoy. Sections are broken up by spirit, so you can easy find and jump into sections depending on what you’re looking for or what ingredients you have available.I deeply appreciate all the random tips/hints, modern twists, and little history lessons scattered throughout the book. My only question now is: when is the next book coming out?Cannot wait to try some more of these recipes!

This book is all about fun and exploration - you’ll not only get a handy guide that shows you how to make some of the best tasting drinks this diverse world has to offer, you’ll also be delighted by the huge range of fascinating details tucked into every page of this wonderful book. Classic Cocktails Done Well has everything a home bartender could ask for, featuring beautifully succinct recipes, interesting historical backstory, a full rundown of the tools of the trade, and, importantly, a tasteful focus on technique and style. If you’re looking to take your bartending skills to the next level and find a new appreciation for the craft and beauty of cocktails, you just may well find this to be the book of your dreams!

I’m definitely keeping this cocktail book handy at my home bar (and in my Kindle app) as I’ll be referring to it again and again! Faith Hingey features drink recipes that anyone can make even with the most limited bar ingredients whether you’re at home or on the go. You can whip something up on the fly for the unexpected guest or pre-batch cocktails for gatherings. I love the historic facts, modern takes and hints along with images for each drink. It’s also especially easy to navigate the recipes with how well organized the content is. Do I shake or stir? What tools do I need? You’ll know before you start. I’m so excited to try every recipe! I’m already eyeing the Eggnog and Brandy Crusta <insert drool emoji>.

My drink palette usually consists of a cider or whatever light beer is showing an ad for on Sunday afternoon.So when I saw this book, I knew I'd in for a treat! I made a handful of drinks from the book and thought they were absolutely tasty! Maybe if you know your stuff, this probably won't open new doors but for someone like me that's always been intimidated by all the drink options, this book helps!Absolutely essential as a reference for stocking your home bar, this book definitely delivers!

Great compendium of classic cocktail recipes that were thoughtfully included so as to prevent home bartenders from having to buy a random collection of spirits and liqueurs that may get little use. Photos are nice looking and there are fun trivia facts about the histories or pronunciations of the cocktails (most recently in pop culture 'sbagliato'). Very reasonably priced and would definitely make a fun stocking stuffer for any enthusiast!

A great introduction for novice bartenders, and an all-around great reference.The first chapter includes a very useful section on essential home bartending tools and techniques (including shaking and expressing citrus peels), with informative and pithy prose. All recipes look great and are accompanied by beautiful images - they are well organized by spirit type with a handy index reference at the back.Highly recommend!

Beautifully photographed cocktails with simple, easy to follow recipes and thorough, simple descriptions of techniques. A great starting guide for simple classic cocktails