Editor Reviews:

Product Description:
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.

Rating : - THE Reference to Learn Mixology Properly From The Start
Nicely done in both material and layout. Definitions/explanations of various spirits,short but interesting history/intros on the different types of drinks and 500 well considered recipes with ingredients, directions, etc. Also there is a lot of good tips,techniques and advice on how to make and present the drinks listed in the book.
Larger format (quarto or about 10 1/2" Tall and 8" wide) with a rarely seen (in drinks books past or present) decent binding so it stays open nicely with tasteful graphics,easy to read type fonts,etc.,. A fair amount of planning and thought organization and editing must have gone into not only the contents of the books but also the practical aspects of it. Works well on a counter,(or better yet behind one of those clear plastic book holders to be safe),laying flat, easy to read/consult,easy to wipe pages and easy to find recipes.
An excellent book to buy and read,(and then practice) before you read Dales other soon to be classic book : The Essential Cocktail: The Art of Mixing Perfect Drinks a precis on how to do the included cocktails properly and artfully.
Slightly larger squareish format makes it an easy it easy to prop open for consultation while mixing - Hell of a lot better than those tiny Mr Boston books or those compendiums of 1000+ drinks recipes in a small format that are hard to read and full of undrinkable cocktails. Nicely balanced mix of information,entertainment and utility