Get Creative with Cocktails: Books That Inspire
Cocktails have been enjoying renewed popularity in recent years, and talented mixologists are continually creating an astounding array of exciting concoctions to tempt our palates.
Those of us who enjoy entertaining (and a drink or two) might want to try our hand at mixing up a few delicious drinks at home.
We've rounded up a trio of really unique books that will help you hone your skills with a cocktail shaker, add inspired beverage pairings to your meals and spark your creativity beyond the stove.
The Cocktail Primer by Eben Klemm
The Cocktail Primer ~ All You Need to Know to Make the Perfect Drink by Eben Klemm is more than a simple collection of cocktail recipes. Klemm is the head bartender for B.R. Guest Restaurants and develops signature drinks for numerous dining concepts. His intention in writing this book was to provide the reader with the basic knowledge and techniques they needed to learn to make truly great cocktails at home.
Rather than simply present a vast array of recipes, this book really teaches how cocktails are assembled and related, laying the groundwork for the reader's individual creativity once they've mastered the basics.
The initial chapter covers how to set up a home bar with all the essentials; spirits, ingredients and equipment. There's also a section that focuses on technique, giving advice on how to pour, shake, muddle, stir and serve properly.
The cocktail recipes in the chapters that follow are grouped by style and technique. They include: Martini's Children, Beyond Manhattans, The Simple Sours, The Complex Sours, Muddled Drinks and Highballs. The drinks in each group are related by makeup, complexity, sweetness, acidity, strength and level of refreshment.
Here's an excerpt from the chapter "Beyond Manhattans" ~
The Manhattan
2 ounces American whiskey, such as bourbon or rye
1 ounce sweet vermouth
2 dashes of angostura or orange bitters
Crème de violette (optional)
Lemon peel or maraschino cherry for garnish
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour the whiskey and vermouth over the ice and then add a dash or two of bitters. Stir with a bar spoon until the outside of the shaker is cold. Strain the cocktail into a martini glass and garnish with lemon peel or a cherry.
More about the book ~
The Cocktail Primer contains more than 30 master cocktail recipes, beautiful photos and a wealth of sound information that will set you on the track toward becoming an accomplished home bartender. If entertaining and sharing cocktails at home with friends is something you enjoy, you'll find this book a worthwhile addition to your library.
Available in hardcover from Amazon.com {about $16}
Japanese Cocktails by Yuri Kato
Japanese Cocktails ~ Mixed Drinks with Saké, Shochu, Whisky and More by Yuri Kato provides a fascinating look at the art and culture of drinking, Japanese style. The author's professional experience as a beverage consultant, combined with a passion for Japanese cuisine and spirits has resulted in a beautifully photographed and inspiring collection of cocktail recipes.
The book includes chapters devoted to authentic cocktails prepared with each of Japan's distinctive beverages ~ Saké, Shochu and Suntory Japanese whiskies, as well as a final chapter featuring Kato's original cocktail recipes made with a wide variety of spirits from all over the world.
Here's one of the author's original cocktails ~
Lady Godzilla
4 to 5 fresh mint leaves
1/4 ounce umeshu (Japanese plum wine)
1-1/2 ounces blanco tequila
1 ounce Midori Melon Liqueur
1/4 ounce lemon juice
Fresh mint sprig for garnish
Muddle mint leaves with umeshu in a mixing glass. Add tequila, Midori and lemon juice and shake with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass, garnish with mint sprig and serve.
More about the book ~
In addition to the more than 60 cocktail recipes, informative excerpts are scattered throughout the book covering topics like the history of Japan's unique spirits, tips on finding unusual ingredients, Japanese cultural traditions and some of the country's points of interest.
For anyone looking to try some cocktails with unique flavor and style Japanese Cocktails is a wonderful resource.
Available in hardcover from Amazon.com {around $10}
How to Drink by Victoria Moore
How to Drink by Victoria Moore is an intriguing exploration of all types of beverages ~ how they refresh, rejuvenate and complement our food as well as add life to our social gatherings.
The author has vast knowledge of the flavors, ingredients and cultural traditions behind a wide variety of spirits and liqueurs and translates this experience in a captivating and unpretentious fashion.
The book is not meant to be an all-encompassing encyclopedia of drinking but rather a collection of the author's favorite beverages, with her recipes and writings uniquely arranged by season and occasion.
Here's an excerpt from the Spring chapter ~
My Favorite Drink
Get the ingredients very cold - twenty minutes in the freezer if necessary, before you mix them, because the drink is already quite diluted and the fizziness can't afford to be stretched any further. This makes a good eight glassfuls.
1 bottle sparkling white wine
2 cups blood-orange juice
5 to 6 ounces Campari
Pour the ingredients into a jug. Serve in small champagne flutes or wineglasses.
More about the book ~
In addition to simple cocktail recipes, How to Drink includes some interesting tips about wine ~ what to do with leftovers, serving temperatures, spritzer recipes, notes on glassware and a variety of non-alcoholic beverage suggestions and recipes.
All in all, if you're interested in learning to drink well without a lot of fuss or excessive spending, How to Drink is a truly worthwhile read.
Available from Amazon.com in both hardcover and Kindle editions {around $13}
Categories: Cookbooks
