Cocktails are bigger than ever, and this is the first real cookbook for them, covering the entire breadth of this rich subject. The Craft of the Cocktail provides much more than merely the same old recipes: it delves into history, personalities, and anecdotes; it shows you how to set up a bar, master important techniques, and use tools correctly; and it delivers unique concoctions, many featuring Dale DeGroff’s signature use of fresh juices, as well as all the classics.
Debonair, a great raconteur, and an unparalleled authority, Dale DeGroff is the epitome of Perfect Bartender, universally acknowledged as the world’s premier mixologist. From Entertainment Weekly and USA Today to the Culinary Institute of America and the nation’s best restaurants, whenever anybody wants information or training on the bar, they turn to Dale for recipes, for history, for anecdotes, for fun—for cocktail-party conversation as well as for cocktails.
That’s what The Craft of the Cocktail is—the full party, conversation and all. It begins with the history of spirits, how they’re made (but without too much boring science), the development of the mixed drink, and the culture it created, all drawn from Dale’s vast library of vintage cocktail books. Then on to stocking the essential bar, choosing the right tools and ingredients, mastering key techniques—hints worthy of a pro, the same information that Dale shares with the bartenders he trains in seminars and through his videos. And then the meat of the matter: 500 recipes, including everything from tried-and-true classics to of-the-moment originals. Throughout are rich stories, vintage recipes, fast facts, and other entertaining asides. Beautiful color photographs and a striking design round out the cookbook approach to this subject, highlighting the difference between an under-the-bar handbook and a stylish, full-blown treatment. The Craft of the Cocktail is that treatment, destined to become the bible of the bar.
List Price:
$35.00
Our Price:
$22.14
You Save:
$12.86 (37%)
Shipping:
Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.
*Shipping:
Product Details
Author:
Dale DeGroff
Hardcover:
240 pages
Publisher:
Clarkson Potter
Publication Date:
October 15, 2002
Language:
English
ISBN:
0609608754
Product Length:
10.22 inches
Product Width:
7.74 inches
Product Height:
0.83 inches
Product Weight:
2.18 pounds
Package Length:
10.0 inches
Package Width:
7.8 inches
Package Height:
0.9 inches
Package Weight:
2.1 pounds
Average Customer Rating:
based on 39 reviews
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: ( 39 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 36 found the following review helpful:
Master Craftsman shares his wisdom Jun 24, 2003
By G. Roukas
"Buzzworthy"
I took a course with Dale and found out first hand what it takes to make a truly great cocktail--and found out how bad most cocktails in bars really are. This book not only tells how to create really memorable drinks for yourself and guests, it also delves into the history of the various spirits and how they've been combined by savvy bartenders to create classics old and new. I've read through it several times, lapping up classics like the sidecar and DeGroff signature drinks like the Ritz. If you like cocktails, this is an amazing book. Nobody cares about getting the best results like Dale.
27 of 27 found the following review helpful:
You won't find a better indroduction to spirits Sep 02, 2006
By JEG
"JG"
Pros
- Great looking book and great photography
- Detailed intro into all the main spirits
- Detailed info on bartending techniques and measurements
- Good intro into cocktail glasses
- Large number of recipes
- The author definately has command of the subject
- Lots of references of wher to buy items for your bar
Cons
- Inconsistant terminology. He uses different names for the same spirit in different pages of the book which leads to a bit of confusion
- No cross reference of recipes by main spirit. I wish the book would have broken down the recipes by main spirit. Recipes with vodka, recipes with tequila, and so on.
- Some spirits are undefined in the book. There are several recipes that have spirits that aren't defined anywhere on the book.
37 of 40 found the following review helpful:
A fine cocktail book from one of the great bartenders. Aug 24, 2005
By J. B. Moore Dale DeGroff is to blame for setting me off on a quest for the perfect Sazerac.
While it lasted (and I can testify that its demise had nothing to do with the quality of the drink and food) DeGroff's Blackbird bar/restaurant in Manhattan was a place I enjoyed going when I could spare the time and cash. When you got DeGroff into the realm of the bitters-tinged cocktail, his subtly aromatic, complex, and a little bit dark and twisted drinks were a treat for the nose and tongue, even as his urbane presence and stylish economy of motion made it clear you were in the presence of a Real Bartender. I still remember the first Sazerac I had there, and the way it unfolded to my senses.
Although in the ensuing years, when it comes to that particular drink, I've developed a slight preference for the simpler perfection of the classic (just rye, Peychaud's Bitters, simple syrup, Herbsaint) Sazerac, I still enjoy the plot twists in the story told by DeGroff's fancified (half-and-half rye and cognac for the liquor, and half-and-half Peychaud's and regular old Angostura handling the bitters requirement) version, and I follow his glass-preparation instructions whichever version I make.
This is all an illustration of the true lesson to be learned about bartenders' references: there is no single book which will tell you everything there is to be learned about mixing drinks. You need to go out and taste what people are mixing, and you need to have several books on hand whose recipes you can read, compare, imagine, try, synthesize, extrapolate. DeGroff's The Craft of the Cocktail, despite having come out as recently as 2002, is clearly one of those essential references you need on your shelf. It's just a bonus (or perhaps, to some, an annoyance) that the book is so lavishly-produced that you could choose to leave it on the coffee table for guests to enjoy when you're not using it yourself.
19 of 20 found the following review helpful:
A must-have for any pretender or contender Jun 17, 2003 First of all, I am just a pretender, and I have no intention of ever becoming a professional bartender. With that said, this is definitely one of the best books I have picked up, and definitely the best bartender book I have ever seen. It contains vivid pictures of everything that Mr. Degroff is trying to explain and he gives great tips on everything from knowing what glassware and alcohols to have in your bar to unbelievable mix drink recipies. For those who do not drink, it even contains an unbelievable non-alcholic drink (the citrius cream). This book also makes a great coffee table book. Vistors that come by cannot keep their hands off of it! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to bartend for fun or professionally.
18 of 19 found the following review helpful:
Great content poorly organized Aug 18, 2010
By Robert C. Rogers
"Bob Rogers"
Try to imagine your favorite cookbook with the recipes arranged in alphabetical order. Bad. Now imagine all of the recipes had fanciful titles not directly related to their ingredients or method of production and THEN they were arranged in alphabetical order. Worse. Now imagine the book had a halfhearted attempt at any index. (Yes, there are a few alternate drink names in the index, but no attempt to, for instance, list drinks by base spirit, let alone minor ingredients.) Well that is DeGroff's Craft of The Cocktail. If you buy it, you pretty much have to read it cover to cover for it to be of use. If you just use it as a reference you will find excellent recipes of familiar drinks but miss all of the original drinks. (You don't know their names. They are originals. How are you going to be led to them in an alphabetical book?) I don't disagree with any of the positive things that people said about this book. (I did tell you to imagine your FAVORITE cookbook destroyed by disorganization.) But this book is a real disappointment and a missed opportunity.
based on 39 reviews
Great content poorly organized Aug 18, 2010
By Robert C. Rogers
"Bob Rogers"
