Customer Reviews

Mr. Boston: Official Bartender's & Party Guide

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This guide has an astounding number of drink recepies, leading to the impression that were you to familiarize yourself with this guide you would know how to make virtually every drink that someone would ask you for. Unfortunately, this is not true as the guide is severely lacking on drinks that have become popular in more recent years, especially among younger people. Your grandfather may be content with this guide, but anyone in their 20's or early 30's is certain to find that several of their favorite drinks are lacking.

That aside, the book isn't a poor starter for someone who is just beginning. It has good advice on setting up a bar even if it is a little outdated, providing references to equipment that is no longer quite so commonly used.

The book claims to be "America's Favorite Drink Mixing Guide" and while it may be the most widely sold guide, I'd venture to say that many of those who purchase it are quite disappointed and reference it a lot less frequently that they envisioned.

This is one of those nifty little reference books to have on hand during a party, or behind the bar, when you just don't remember (or know) how to make a particular cocktail or mixed drink.

Strengths:
* Decent overview of the basic essentials of tending bar: tools, party planning, etc.
* Encyclopedic breadth of recipes, both old and new. You wanna make an old fashioned sloe-gin fizz ? No problem. Want to know how to make "simple syrup" for Caribbean drinks and classic cocktails from the roaring 20's ? It's in there. Perhaps some haute toity blue blood, huffing a tiparillo behind a pair of 1950's vintage hornrims (and a pile of bar cash) wants a Pousse Café (one of the most anal-retentive and pretentious mixed drinks ever devised, BTW) ? No problemo, and don't forget to pour the different layers of chartreuse across a spoon to keep the layers distinct ... not that (in all reality) you'll ever actually get an order for one.
* Conveniently sized and fonted to provide maximum information in a small book ... that easily fits in a bar kit, behind a counter, or near a cash register. Well indexed too. In other words, this is a book designed for regular use and quick reference ... not for sitting idle on your coffee table.

Weaknesses:
* It's rather weak on instruction - but in the book's defense, it's a reference book by design, not an instructional book, and it's targeted for people who already know basic bartending.
* It's a bit weak on frozen/blended drink techniques - overdue for ergonomic update and expansion.
* It could include more information on various specialty liqueurs, and their flavor/usage.
* I'm slighly annoyed that despite 60+ reprintings, there are relatively few changes from revision to revision.
* It could give some tips on how to evaluate important tools like blenders.
* Although the book offers great breadth of recipes, it neglects (my 64th edition version doesn't) to provide things that professional bartenders find useful ... such as tips on how to organize a "speed rack", and helpful mnemonics for high-demand drinks (ex: a "Kamikaze" has "Very Little Time" ... VLT = Vodka, with a splash of lime and triplesec. Here's another: "Margarita" has "Tiny Little Sour Toes" ... TLST = Tequila, with lime, sour mix, and triplesec. Mr. Boston's doesn't really cover such helpful tricks - but it could and should).

Bottom line - books don't survive to 60+ editions unless they're doing something right. It's a very handy little reference book, and despite it's hefty recipe archive, it takes up surprisingly little space on your shelf ... by design. This one was a toss up between 3 and 4 stars for me ... but it's been useful enough to me over the years, despite it's flaws, to get the 4.

While there is a good deal of great information contained within its pages the guide desperately needs to be modernized. It lacks many of the most popular shooters, and has very few recipes for flavored vodkas and rum. I would strongly suggest either the playboy's bartender guide or bartending for dummies over this guide.

While there are some very nice full color pictures in the guide all of them are
Actually adds for the Mr. Boston brand of spirits. Also some of the recipes call for the Mr. Boston brad name of a drink instead of the generic name of the alcohol this can be very confusing since Mr. Boston is not available in all areas

Look no further... this is the guide you will want handy at all of your parties. It is well organized and has very clear directions. Don't pass this up.

This book is the standard reference work to mixed drinks and cocktails and most bars have a copy. However, many of the drinks in this book were popular in the 30s-60s and are not ordered today. This is more of a reference work with hundreds of drink recipies. If you want to learn about the types of spirits, how to select a wine, etc. look elsewhere.

The guide seems to have all the basic drinks, techniques, and supplies covered. At the beginning of each section (whiskey, rum, vodka, etc), there's an overview that would be good except for the annoying product promos. In the end, there were so many plugs for Mr Boston spirits and other brands, I felt like Mr Boston should be paying me for reading all these no-so-subtle ads.

I've owned this book for years. It has most of the drinks about which I've ever been curious. But this morning it failed me -- I looked up "toddy" and "hot toddy," and found nothing. I'd think this would be such a common drink that it'd be in every book. So Mr. Boston's is a good reference, but not the compleat one.

Yes, this is probably the first drinks book you'll buy. (I suppose because this is what is sold in liquor stores....) For that reason, everyone has a copy. However, the names uses for the various liquors are their own--even though in many cases their's is the generic brand. Which is frustrating. I also marvel as how many drinks are not in here, perhaps because they are usually made with another distiller's brands? Ignoring that, it is a convenient size and is well laid out. Keep looking.

I have a had one of these sence 72 just wanted to update for the price it can not be beat

The 65th hard-cover edition of Mr. Boston would not rate a grade of "C" in any journalism class that I could imagine. Time-Warner did not spend enough money in editing (and re-write) to catch that the Introduction still refers to the book as the 64th edition. All-in-all, Amazon should not offer such a piece of junk.

One might say that well there may be silght <s> errors, the book has everything. In fact, Time-Warner sub-titles the book as "Official Bartender's and Party Guide" and further offers the comment "A Best Seller Since 1935..." Well, your favorite cake may have all the ingredients - butter, flour, sugar, eggs, etc. but if the mix is not done properly and if the cake time/temperature is not correct, well...

And, I can't say it contains all the ingredients. For one, there is no listing for a Vodka Martini. My bartenter acquantainces say this has been the most popular martini for several years.

My suggestion is to stay away from Mr. Boston.