Bartending for Dummies [Paperback]

Ray Foley (Author)

Book Description

Series: For Dummies (Lifestyles Paperback) | Publication Date: September 12, 1997

When you are serving drinks at a bar, you should have at least basic knowledge of about 200 of the most popular cocktails in your head. A cocktail is, according to Webster's New World Dictionary, “any of various alcoholic drinks made of a distilled liquor mixed as with wine, fruit juice, or soda water and usually iced.” There are thousands of different drink mixes with thousands of different names that people desire.

Whether you are planning a small cocktail party at your home, planning to start a new career, or just want to know how to make a given drink, Bartending For Dummies offers a wonderful place to start. This clearly written, easy-to-understand guide can help anyone to

• Create more than 1,000 different drinks
• Set up and stock your home bar
• Shake, stir, strain, and serve like a pro
• Make over 100 great shooters
• Buy enough supplies for parties

This book takes the mystery out of mixology. Can you put together a perfect martini? Or create the consummate cosmopolitan? From classic drinks to today's coolest cocktails, this comprehensive A-to-Z guide shows you how to mix up whatever libations you or your guests might desire.

Bartending For Dummies also covers the following topics and more:

• The tools required to make any drink
• Information on every type of alcohol including where they come from, how they’re made, and how to store and serve them
• Alphabetical listing of almost a thousand cocktail recipes
• How to make pousse-cafés (layered drinks), punches, and non-alcoholic drinks

There are thousands of bars around the world stocked with everything from beer to vodka. Bartending For Dummies is the ingredient that no bar should be without. This book can help you to be that impressive bartender by showing you everything you need to know about tending a bar.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“…a very interesting and informative book…” (M2 Best Books, May 2004) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

"A must for all the ‘do-it-yourself’ bartenders." Charles Chop, United States Bartender's Guild Praise for Ray Foley "America's best known and funniest bartender." — Bill Samuels Jr., President, Maker's Mark Distillery, Inc. "There is only one member of the original bartender's Hall of Fame: Ray Foley." — Bob Suffrendini, Vice President, Hiram Walker, Allied Domecq Spirits and Wine USA, Inc.

Get tips on bartending tools and techniques

The book that takes the mystery out of mixology Can you put together a perfect martini? Or create the consummate cosmopolitan? From classic drinks to today's coolest cocktails, this comprehensive A-to-Z guide shows you how to mix up whatever libations you or your guests might desire.

Discover how to: Stock your home bar Create over 1,000 different drinks Shake, stir, strain, and serve like a pro Make over 100 great shooters Buy enough supplies for parties

Get smart! www.dummies.com Register to win cool prizes Browse exclusive articles and excerpts Get a free Dummies Daily^™ e-mail newsletter Chat with authors and preview other books Talk to us, ask questions, get answers

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (September 12, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764550519
• ISBN-13: 978-0764550515
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #529,430 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ray Foley, a former Marine with over 30 years of bartending and restaurant experience, is the Founder and Editor of BARTENDER(R) Magazine. Ray is referred to as "The Legend" for all he has done for bartenders and bartending. BARTENDER(R) Magazine is the only magazine in the world specifically geared towards bartenders and is one of the very few primarily designed for servers of alcohol. BARTENDER(R) Magazine is enjoying its 30th year and currently has a circulation of OVER 148,000 and is steadily growing.

After serving in the United States Marine Corps and attending Seton Hall University, Ray entered the restaurant business as a Bartender which eventually led to Assistant General Manager of The Manor in West Orange, N.J., with over 350 employees.

In 1983, Ray left The Manor to devote his full efforts to BARTENDER(R) Magazine. The circulation and exposure has grown from 7,000 to over 148,000 to date and has become the largest on-premise liquor magazine in the country.
Ray has been published in numerous articles throughout the country and has appeared on many TV and radio shows.

He is the founder of the "Bartender Hall of Fame??" which honors the best Bartenders throughout the United States not only for their abilities at bartending but for involvement and service in their communities as well.
Ray is also the founder of "The Bartenders' Foundation??" Incorporated. This non-profit foundation has been set up to raise scholarship money for bartenders and their families. Scholarships awarded to bartenders can be used to either further their education or can go toward the education of their children.

Mr. Foley serves as a consultant to some of our nation's foremost distillers and importers. He is also responsible for naming and creating new drinks for the liquor industry. Here are just a few:
"The Fuzzy Navel"
"The Royal Stretch" - for Grand Royal Oaks Race
"The Royal Turf" - for Grand Royal Oaks Race
"Runaway Bride"
"Pink Cadillac"
"Pamamamabu"
"Pear-A-Terre"
"Grapeful Red"
"Pear A Mud"
"Pearsian Kat"
"Pomtree Cocktail"
"ViAGWA"
"The Royal Sour"
"The Hamptons "Golden Apfel"
"Envy"
"Water Lilly"
"Mosquito Bite"
"The Balance"
"Farmer's Cabinet"

Ray has one of the largest collections of cocktail recipe books in the world, dating back to the 1800s and is one of the foremost collectors of cocktail shakers, having 368 shakers in his collection.

Ray resides in New Jersey with his wife and partner of 27 years, Jackie, and their son, Ryan

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For Dummies, right on my level, November 23, 2000

By 

Ericka Haddad (New England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bartending for Dummies (Paperback)

A while ago I decided to take up bartending as a hobby. I got a drink guide, but that's all it was: a drink guide. Bartending for Dummies does what all the other For Dummies books do: it takes you by the hand, and assumes nothing. This book first teaches you about the tools of the trade, teaching you things like how to properly open champagne and wine, what glass to use, etc. Then it gives you info and history on all the popular drinks (whisky, beer, rum etc.) It gives you mixing tips, and then a whole lot of drink reccipes. It has a chapter with tables telling you what kind of liquer and mixers you'll need for a party with X amount of people, along with a list of what your humble but equipt home bar should have. It also has a great chapter on mixing layered drinks. As a bartender, I am far from pro, but now I have a little skill I can use when friends come over. The book is informative, precise, and very very helpful.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So you want to know how to mix drinks., June 21, 2000

By 

[e-mail] - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bartending for Dummies (Paperback)

Many books out there can help you mix a drink, but Bartending For Dummies not only shows you how to make drinks, but how to stock your bar, what glasses to use and even a little trivia about some drinks. The contents are laid out in an easy to use format, and any "technical" bartending speak is explained to you. Dont get this book if you are expecting tons and tons of drink mixes, it just isnt there but it makes up for it by giving you all the practical information you need to get going!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reference!, September 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Bartending for Dummies (Paperback)

Hey, I bought this book when I first became a bartender. Now, when I became a bartender, I lied in order to get the job. I said that I had over 5 years experience behind the bar. Hell, I hadn't even had 5 minutes experience, let alone 5 years! I didn't even know what glasses were for what. So, I needed a book on bartending, and I needed a good one. And I am here to tell you, this is one of the best bartending reference books ever! At first, I wanted to look like a pro, but with the help of this book, I am a pro!