Drink in some education with fall’s best cocktail books

School days, school days, dear old golden rule days – nope, don’t miss ’em.

But there’s still something about September that makes you want to learn something new. It’s even better if that something new has a boozy kick to it. So why not pick up one of the season’s new cocktail books and drink in some liquid education? Start with these spirited volumes.


The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks in 150 Recipes

edited by Megan Krigbaum (Ten Speed Press)

A roundup of the best classic and modern cocktail recipes from PUNCH, the online drinks magazine.

On shelves: Now.

 


The Art of the Bar Cart: Styling & Recipes

by Vanessa Dina & Ashley Rose Conway with Antonis Achilleos (Chronicle Books)

Roll a bar cart into a room and it immediately adds a louche elegance. This book showcases 20 beautifully styled bar cars – from vintage chic to perfectly punchy – and offers loads of tips, recipes and photos to inspire your own look.

On shelves: Sept. 12.


Cocktails FAQ: All That’s Left to Know About the Drinks, the Bars, and the Legends

by Cheryl Charming (Backbeat Books)

This handy little tome is filled with fun facts and anecdotes to amuse your guests at your next cocktail party. Want to know about distillation techniques, cocktail history or how to create the perfect ice cube? It’s got you covered.

On shelves: Sept. 13.


High-Proof PDX: A Spirited Guide to Portland’s Craft Distilling Scene

by Karen Locke (Overcup Press)

Your essential guide to the city that (reportedly) has more artisan distilleries than any other. It provides everything you need to know before you go exploring the tasting rooms, cocktail bars and boozy boutiques.

On shelves: Sept. 19.


Distillery Cats: Profiles in Courage of the World’s Most Spirited Mousers

by Brad Thomas Parsons (Ten Speed Press)

The James Beard Award-winning author of Bitters and Amaro offers purr-fect profiles of more than 30 distillery cats, with cheeky little “interviews,” hand-drawn portraits, stats and recipes.

On shelves: Sept. 19.


Three-Ingredient Cocktails: An Opinionated Guide to the Most Enduring Drinks in the Cocktail Canon

by Robert Simonson (Ten Speed Press)

It takes three to make a trend, they say. Seems it also takes three to make a classic, at least when it comes to cocktails. This book is an ode to the simple perfection of three-ingredient cocktails, both historic and new, from the classic Bees Knees to the contemporary Little Italy.

On shelves: Sept. 26.


Good Together: Drink & Feast with Mr. Lyan and Friends

by Ryan Chetiyawardana (Frances Lincoln)

The ultimate guide to throwing a great party, written by the creative cocktailian behind London’s celebrated White Lyan and Dandelyan bars. He pairs recipes from restaurants around the world with cocktails, and demonstrates how to make cocktails part of any event.

On shelves: Sept. 26.


Road Soda: Recipes and Techniques for Making Great Drinks, Anywhere

by Kara Newman (Dovetail Press)

No matter where you are, whether you’re camping in the wilderness or making do with a hotel mini-bar, you can still make a good cocktail – at least if you follow this fun and useful guide.

On shelves: Oct. 3.


Meehan’s Bartender Manual

by Jim Meehan (Ten Speed Press)

If there is one book every cocktail lover needs to own this season, it’s going to be this one. Jim Meehan is not only one of the most influential bartenders in the world – best known for his work at New York’s groundbreaking PDT speakeasy – he’s also a mentor, journalist, consultant and author of 2011’s The PDT Cocktail Book. His new book is sure to be an indispensible guide to everything you need to know about modern and historic cocktails.

On shelves: Oct. 17.


 

—by Joanne Sasvari

Make the Mezcal Mule from Meehan’s Bartender’s Manual.

 

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