Best Bartending Books

If you’re looking to learn how to bartend or just want to up your cocktail game, a good bartending book can help. Amazon’s list of best-selling titles in this category covers everything from classic cocktails to shaken drinks to molecular mixology and more. These tomes are a great resource for learning all the necessary tools, techniques, and terminology behind bartending, and they also include recipes for trendy drinks like smoked drinks, tiki drinks, and more.

Read on for the best bartending books.

# Preview Product Price
1 The Home Bartender, Second Edition: 175+ Cocktails Made with 4 Ingredients or Less (The Art of Entertaining) The Home Bartender, Second Edition: 175+ Cocktails Made with 4 Ingredients or Less (The Art of Entertaining) [amazon fields=”1604338121″ value=”price”]
2 Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions [A Cocktail Recipe Book] Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions [A Cocktail Recipe Book] [amazon fields=”160774970X” value=”price”]
3 The Art of Mixology: Classic Cocktails and Curious Concoctions The Art of Mixology: Classic Cocktails and Curious Concoctions [amazon fields=”1680524100″ value=”price”]
4 Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail [amazon fields=”0393089037″ value=”price”]
5 The Ultimate Bar Book: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Cocktails (Cocktail Book, Bartender Book, Mixology Book, Mixed Drinks Recipe Book) The Ultimate Bar Book: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Cocktails (Cocktail Book, Bartender Book, Mixology Book, Mixed Drinks Recipe Book) [amazon fields=”0811843513″ value=”price”]
6 Meehan's Bartender Manual: [A Cocktail Reference and Recipe Book] Meehan’s Bartender Manual: [A Cocktail Reference and Recipe Book] [amazon fields=”1607748622″ value=”price”]
7 The Professional Bartender's Handbook: A Recipe for Every Drink Known - Including Tricks and Games to Impress Your Guests The Professional Bartender’s Handbook: A Recipe for Every Drink Known – Including Tricks and Games to Impress Your Guests [amazon fields=”0910627959″ value=”price”]
8 The Bartender's Manifesto: How to Think, Drink, and Create Cocktails Like a Pro The Bartender’s Manifesto: How to Think, Drink, and Create Cocktails Like a Pro [amazon fields=”0593137981″ value=”price”]
9 Beer, Food, and Flavor: A Guide to Tasting, Pairing, and the Culture of Craft Beer Beer, Food, and Flavor: A Guide to Tasting, Pairing, and the Culture of Craft Beer [amazon fields=”1632203154″ value=”price”]
10 Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails [amazon fields=”1607745259″ value=”price”]

Our Editor’s Best Bartending Books Reviews


The Home Bartender, Second Edition: 175+ Cocktails Made with 4 Ingredients or Less (The Art of Entertaining)

 The Home Bartender, Second Edition: 175+ Cocktails Made with 4 Ingredients or Less (The Art of Entertaining)

Key Features:


Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions [A Cocktail Recipe Book]

 Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions [A Cocktail Recipe Book]

Key Features:


The Art of Mixology: Classic Cocktails and Curious Concoctions

 The Art of Mixology: Classic Cocktails and Curious Concoctions

Key Features:


Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail

 Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail

Key Features:


The Ultimate Bar Book: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Cocktails (Cocktail Book, Bartender Book, Mixology Book, Mixed Drinks Recipe Book)

 The Ultimate Bar Book: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Cocktails (Cocktail Book, Bartender Book, Mixology Book, Mixed Drinks Recipe Book)

Key Features:


Meehan’s Bartender Manual: [A Cocktail Reference and Recipe Book]

 Meehan's Bartender Manual: [A Cocktail Reference and Recipe Book]

Key Features:


The Professional Bartender’s Handbook: A Recipe for Every Drink Known – Including Tricks and Games to Impress Your Guests

 The Professional Bartender's Handbook: A Recipe for Every Drink Known - Including Tricks and Games to Impress Your Guests

Key Features:


The Bartender’s Manifesto: How to Think, Drink, and Create Cocktails Like a Pro

 The Bartender's Manifesto: How to Think, Drink, and Create Cocktails Like a Pro

Key Features:


Beer, Food, and Flavor: A Guide to Tasting, Pairing, and the Culture of Craft Beer

 Beer, Food, and Flavor: A Guide to Tasting, Pairing, and the Culture of Craft Beer

Key Features:


Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails

 Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails

Key Features:


Best Bartending Books Buying Guide

Before choosing the best bartender book you should consider following options:

1. The Author: Who wrote the book is an important factor to consider. Authors who are experts in the bartending field are important to read.

Some books are written by experts in the field and contain all the information you need to get started as a bartender. Reading the author’s bio is important because it allows you to get an idea of what you can expect from their writing.

Authors of books on bartending are often bartenders themselves. However, some writers of these books have no experience in the bartending field, but have taken the time to research and learn about the job.

Reading the author’s bio will help you determine whether it is worth buying the book.

2. The Chapters: Another important factor to consider before buying a book on bartending is the content of the chapters.

Some books contain a step-by-step process for bartending and others are written as a manual for a new bartender.

The type of book you buy will depend on the type of job you plan on doing. If you plan on doing mostly cocktail-making, then it is important to get a book with chapters that contain recipes.

If you plan on doing more of the behind-the-bar activities, such as managing inventory and serving customers, then a manual is the best option for you.

3. The Illustrations: Reading a book on bartending can be difficult, especially for someone who has never done it before.

A book with illustrations can help a new bartender get a better idea of what they are reading. The illustrations can also give a visual representation of some of the drinks that are mentioned in the book.

A book with illustrations can help a new bartender get a better idea of what they are reading.

New bartenders need as much help as they can get when they start out. Reading a book on bartending is not an easy task and it can be intimidating.

A book with illustrations can make the process easier for new bartenders.

4. The References: Reading a book on bartending can be difficult, especially if it is your first time. It is important to get a book that has references that you can use.

A book with references can help you get a job in the bartending field. It is important to get a book that has references that relate to the job you want to do.

For instance, if you want to become a bartender in a bar, then it is important to get a book with references to different bars. If you want to work as a bartender in a restaurant, then a book with references that relate to restaurants is the best option.

5. The Interview: One of the best ways to get a better idea of what a book is like is by reading the interview section.

The interview is a place where the author answers questions and gives advice on different aspects of bartending.

The interview can help you get a better idea of what a book is like and whether it is the best option for you.


Bartending Books FAQs

1. What are the best bartending books for beginners?

There a few different bartending books that are great for beginners. “The Bartender’s Bible” by Gary Regan is a classic and comprehensive guide that covers everything from stocking a bar to making hundreds of different cocktails. “The Cocktail Lab” by Tony Conigliaro is a newer book that takes a more scientific approach to bartending, and is full of creative recipes. “The PDT Cocktail Book” by Jim Meehan is another excellent choice, and focuses on the history and craft of bartending.

2. What are the best bartending books for mixology?

The best bartending books for mixology are “The Art of the Cocktail” by Dale DeGroff, “The Craft of the Cocktail” by Dale Degroff, and “The Cocktail Bible” by Jennifer McCartney.

3. What are the best bartending books for cocktails?

There are many bartending books that focus on cocktails, but some of the best include “The Craft of the Cocktail” by Dale DeGroff, “The Bartender’s Bible” by Gary Regan, and “The Cocktail Book” by Jerry Thomas.

4. What are the best bartending books for bartenders?

There are many great bartending books out there, but some of our favorites include “The Bartender’s Bible” by Gary Regan, “The Cocktail Handbook” by Paul Clarke, “The Joy of Mixology” by Gary Regan, and “The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks” by David Embury.

5. What are the best bartending books for bar owners?

There is no definitive answer to this question as different bartenders may have different opinions on the best bartending books for bar owners. However, some popular bartending books that may be worth considering include “The Bar Book: Elements of Cocktail Technique” by Jeffry Morgenthaler, “The Cocktail Lab: Unraveling the Mysteries of Flavor in Cocktails” by Tony Conigliaro, and “Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails” by David Kaplan, Nick Fauchald, and Alex Day.


Conclusion

There are many great bartending books on the market. Our list of the best bartending books will help you save time researching and choosing the best one for you.