Customer Reviews

The Professional Bartender's Handbook: A Recipe for Every Drink Known - Including Tricks and Games to Impress Your Guests

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Professional Bartender's Handbook is an easy-to-use book for anyone. If you're stocking your own bar there are lists of what and how much to buy (including alcohol, mixers, and extras), what tools to have on hand (types of glasses, spoons, strainers--who knew?). There's even a chapter on really starting a bar--from business plan through OSHA regs and promotions.

As for recipes, the book has 1500 of them, from A Bat and a Ball to Zuma Buma, with a separate section for non-alcoholic drinks. Over 200 pages filled with recipes! None are indexed, only alphabetized, so if you're looking for various martinis--from apple to vodka, you could be skimming pages for awhile.

The book starts with the basics about liquor, like the difference between Haitian and Jamaican rum, how wines should be served, etc., There's even a chapter on drinking games and toasts--what more could you want? Everything you need to be a fantastic bartender is right here.

I was completely new to everything thats bartending when i got this book and this book has provided a strong base in knowledge of bartending. I think this is a better option for novice bartenders and may not be as useful for the more experienced bartender, but may still help as a reference.

This is a classic bartender's guide that has everything you need to know to create perfect cocktails and fabulous parties- whether you are a professional mixologist or whether you are brand new to the art form. The guide is laid out in a very organized easy to follow format with everything you need to know about the liquors and mixes you will use, how to set up a working bar, tools of the trade, bar management and 1500 alcoholic drink recipes, as well as several non-alcoholic drink recipes as well. Finally, there is a concise section of some bar add-ons and several games, tricks and toasts and case study examples to read and study. The back of the book utilizes both a glossary and an index.

Even if you start with no bartending knowledge at all, this easy to follow guide gives you all the information you need to properly stock and operate a professional bar, or, if you prefer, remain the host and utilize this book at home. It will have you serving up libations for friends and family in no time. There are checklist for liquors, mixers, and tools and accessories, step-by-step directions for preparing garnishes, advice on what type of glassware to use, guides for preparing for large gatherings and more in this comprehensive guide to bartending.

The drink recipes are simple to follow, so you can easily make hundreds and hundreds of beverages just by following the simple guides. You no longer need to worry about non-drinkers feeling left out, either, with the pages of non-alcoholic drink recipes included in this guide. To add to the entertainment value of your bar, whether for profit or fun, this guide includes fun tricks and games that you can use to amaze your guests and encourage them to enjoy themselves. If you have "The Professional Bartender's Handbook," you truly have the only book you will need to learn how to be a professional bartender worth his or her weight in gold.

The Professional Bartender's Handbook: A Recipe for Every Drink Known--
Including Tricks & Games to Impress Your Guests by Valerie Mellema is an exceptional bartending guide and is rated at the highest level- 5.

Ever wonder what the difference is between Irish whiskey and Scotch whiskey or a lambic and a lager? Or whether that bottle of tequila is still drinkable? Do you know what V.S.O.P. stands for? Want to brush up on your skills as a sommelier? Whether throwing a fantastic party or tending bar professionally, this is an indispensable reference to keep on hand.

Ms. Mellema provides a rundown on setting up a bar complete with lists of how much and what kinds of alcohol and accoutrements to buy, and offers tips on management including how to obtain a liquor license and the different types of insurance policies the prospective bar owner is likely to encounter. But the real meat of the book is the nearly comprehensive listing of drink recipes. While I do have to take off points because there's no recipe for a mojito (there is a recipe for caipirinhas, though), I was really impressed with how many off-the-beaten-path drinks are included. I ran several of the more difficult drink requests past my favorite local bartender and they weren't even in her book!

But although I've discovered several new drinks I love and learned a few new toasts, my favorite part of this book is definitely the final chapter in which bartenders talk about their favorite (and most hated) things about their profession. I have a lot more sympathy for bartenders now, and I won't be ordering frozen drinks anymore!

This is just the book I was looking for! I'ts a really fun read because you can not only make the perfect recipe, but also have fun with the games. Most books like these just have recipes and boring protocol. I am going to give this as a Christmas present to my bachelor brother.

There is enough cocktail recipes in this book to last you a lifetime. A very easy read. I highly recommend this book.

First of all, this is my FIRST try to write a review on amazon. I wish there were someone who had left review like this so that i didnt have to buy this book. The book is far from helpful in getting proper drink recipes. The only part that I enjoyed reading was the first 10-15pages where it talks about the introduction and origin of liquor, which also can be easily found on google. The 1500 recipes are listed in a number of pages(2 third of the the entire book) with all the similar directions for most of the drinks such as "Shake well with ice, strain into a cocktail glass." Who would not shake well and serve in a pint glass? That's not what I, who have been bartending for years and was looking for some cute ideas of making unique and fun drinks, was looking for. It would've been so much better if there were some pictures of the drinks --maybe not all but at least some that are strongly recommended-- and better directions like when/by whom this drink is usually requested or what flavor/taste makes the drink so special. Nothing that catches my eyes in this book. I regret that I wrote the date that i bought the book on the top edge of the book, which what i always do when buying a book, because this is the only reason that I still have this book without returning it.

This was a Christmas gift and they seemed happy with it. We will see once they get the chance to try it out

I purchased this book for a friend of mine that I met while living in Russia who has just bought his own place and loves to host parties. He very much enjoys bartending and gets most of his ideas off the internet so this made for a very nice gift to give him recipes at his finger tips for mixing drinks.

The item was very well liked gift item, but i would've liked some pictures of the drinks as well. Other than that the book has some very good drinks :)