Drinkology: The Art and Science of the Cocktail [Hardcover]

James Waller (Author), Andrew Miller (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 3, 2003

This is an elegantly packaged, entertainingly written, easy-to-use bartending guidebook that provides the budding bartender with all the information he or she needs to create the classic cocktail while also serving as a handy reference for the more experienced mixologist. Drinkology emphasizes the classic cocktails that any bartender should know how to prepare. Each of the chapters devoted to a specific liquor begins with a brief, general discussion (history, manufacture, lore) of that spirit. Recipes based that liquor then follow, in alphabetical order. Within that alphabetical arrangement, the best-known, classic cocktails are accorded a full page each; variations on the classics and recipes for other, more unusual drinks are given briefer treatment (three recipes per page). The Gin chapter, for example, begins with an introduction summarizing gin's history, distillation, and lore - and briefly explaining the various types of gin and their distinct qualities; the recipes section of the chapter features full-page treatments of the Gibson, Gimlet, Gin and Tonic, Martini, Pink Lady, Singapore Sling, and Tom Collins interspersed among other gin-based cocktail recipes, which appear in alphabetical order. (The book as a whole will contain between four and five hundred recipes in all.) Drinkology differs from most other bartending guides in that it is constructed to be used while mixing drinks. Its compact size, waterproof Kivar cover, and sewn binding mean that it can readily be used at the bar without fear of damage and that it will lie flat when opened - important attributes when one is consulting a recipe while tending bar.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Cool and sophisticated, cocktails are on the racier side of bar-drinking. Daring imbibers can indulge in Harvey Wallbangers, Alabama Slammers, Pink Ladies and more, to the unaware, exotic concoctions created with seemingly little effort by gyrating bartenders. But this ease belies an intensive training and years of experience and it is a brave man to try these at home for guests. Step in "Drink-ol-o-gy" - as the subtitle aptly explains, the art and science of the cocktail. Discover the tricks of the trade within these tactile, washable covers. A world of seemingly cryptic nomenclature, some unfortunate such as Angel's Tit and Sex on the Beach, others indicative of their ingredients - Chocolate Black Russian and Apple Martine, others conjuring up thoughts of distant shores such as Sea Breeze and Iceberg. Divided by spirit, it is an easy-to-find reference for whatever is lurking in your liquor cupboard. Whether violently coloured or subtly shaded, they are the epitome of elegance and this wittily written, informative handbook will assist you in the education of their production. Attractive in its own right, this book deserves a place on every home bar. So stun your guests with your newfound expertise and give them a reason to remember their visit for a long time to come. - Lucy Watson

About the Author

James Waller is the editor of the National Writers Union Freelance Writers Guide (F&W Publications 2000) and the writer of STC's Moviegoer's Journal (2001) and The Well-Bred Dog and The Well-Bred Cat (2002).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Stewart, Tabori and Chang (October 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158479304X
• ISBN-13: 978-1584793045
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,156,997 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An elegant handbook, November 19, 2003

By 

P. Wingo (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Drinkology: The Art and Science of the Cocktail (Hardcover)

I got a copy of this as a birthday gift, and am buying more now to give to others. Actually I'm writing this only because the other review (Pieter in South Africa) is so off the mark. This is not a coffee table book, but a handbook on how to mix drinks, and as such it is the best I've seen. It has a really elegant design, and when we tried several of the drinks (from the "favorites" list in the back) they all came out great. A friend of mine who said he'd never made a mixed drink made a wonderful Manhattan.

And it's more than just recipes, it's entertaining to read as well. So if you want to drink cocktails, rather than just look at them, I think this is the best choice.

Oh, by the way, I only found one misspelling.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential bar reference that is in itself beautiful, January 16, 2004

By 

Daisy (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Drinkology: The Art and Science of the Cocktail (Hardcover)

I am not a cocktail snob like some of the reviewers here (who sound like nothing so much as chili or barbecue fanatics, usually men, who see themselves as keepers of the true flame). But I like a good cocktail, and I like cocktail guides. This is a classic of its kind.

Drinkology is an excellent, highly respectable bar guide that is very much in the spirit of Julia Child: approach classic recipes with an open and respectful mind, and rely on your own (finely honed) abilities to create your own version.

It is also a beautiful book and one meant to be used: a handsome waterproof cover, bound to lie flat and with a helpful grosgrain ribbon marker. It represents careful thought about reference works and is really state-of-the-art. The designer and the author clearly know books. One uses Drinkology, but one also enjoys the "feel" of the book. It's also very well written and gently funny and makes a wonderful armchair companion. A great gift--for others or for yourself.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book, despite a few miscues, October 27, 2005

By 

A. L. Arrington (College Station, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Drinkology: The Art and Science of the Cocktail (Hardcover)

As noted by other reviewers, this is a very elegant and functional book with an eclectic collection of sometimes hard to find recipes. I'm not sure why someone would have issues with the omission of pictures (though there are a handful of drawn illustrations). I believe the point of the book is for you to make your own cocktail and see what it looks like. As the title suggests, cocktail making is an art, but it is not related to photography otherwise. I am a huge fan of Robert Hess' Drinkboy website but I am disappointed in his selective review of this book. I am in full agreement with his analyses of these recipes (I also view the Manhattan and Old Fashioned recipes as low points in an otherwise great book, and the evaluation of the Mai Tai is nothing short of strange). HOWEVER-- what he fails to mention is that the writeup on these drinks explains that the recipe presented is a variation, and they go on to say that club soda in an Old Fashioned is sometimes considered a "travesty" and that one may feel absolutely free to omit the cherry syrup from their Manhattan (guilding the lily in my opinion) as well as use Bourbon (definitely). These handful of notable shortcomings aside, I believe this book more than redeems itself in other areas. It has several welcome features not present in many bartending guides, especially the description of what a drink tastes like (so as to know what to expect) and the favorites section, and while they are often traditional in their approach to making cockatils, they will just as often go with something they *like* as opposed to something "authentic," which I applaud as honest--and they ALWAYS encourage experimentation. Drinkology is not afraid to be biased in their presentation of recipes, but at least they let you know this, and by extension let you know that they have actually *tried* all of these drinks, which I also think is noteworthy among bartending guides. And as for the indexing scheme, I definitely prefer recipes arranged by base spirit as opposed to by name--if you're looking up a drink you've only heard of, use the index. I am not (yet) familiar with the books Mr. Hess recommends in his writeup, but especially for a beginning cocktail enthusiast, it would be hard to go wrong with Drinkology.