American Bar: The Artistry of Mixing Drinks (Hardcover)

by Charles Schumann (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
An invaluable reference for any bartender or home entertainer, this book is conveniently organized into informative sections that explain how cocktails are made and include important information about their ingredients. For easy use, more than 500 recipes are arranged alphabetically, each cross-referenced in drink categories.

Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Abbeville Press (January 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558598537
• ISBN-13: 978-1558598539
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #426,748 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A noteworthy collection of cocktail recipes., October 13, 1999

By A Customer

The classy maroon cover, and black type on this little volume are quite fitting to the contents that it contains. Charles Schumann has done an execellent job at gathering a very impressive collection of recipes. The recipes are listed in alphabetical order, and with the inclusion of a very comprehensive cross index at the front of the book, it allows you to look up recipes for a variety of different purposes.

Scattered within the recipes in the first half of the book are several of his own design, with the "Fallen Leaves" being one of my personal favorites. The second half of the book contains a great collection of information about different cocktail categories, sprits, liqueurs, as well as a review of mixology tools, terms, and processes in general.

However, I do take issue with several of the recipes he provides. He describes both the Old Fashioned and Sazerac as being filled with water or soda as the final step, neither of which is correct. He also indicates Triple Sec as the proper ingredient for a Sidecar, when it should be Cointreau, and the proportions he provides for this don't result in what I feel are a properly balanced drink.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is my bible, June 20, 2000

By	Thomas Ridge (London, Great Britain) - See all my reviews

If I wasn't a devouted Christian, Charles Schumann would be my God. This book exudes class, the maroon cover and the black binding make it worth having simply for the pose value. This book is an invaluable fountain of cocktail knowledge, interspersed with Schumann's own advice, for instance with the recipe for Long Island Iced Tea he wryly remarks "I personally never pour vodka and gin together"(funnier in print). If you like cocktails, or simply want to know about them (there is a comprehensive history of varoius alcohols), buy this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A complete and easy guide of bartendering, June 22, 1999

By A Customer

This is a beautiful book. It is easy written and the recipes are well explained. The images, like the paintings help a lot to make a tasteful cocktail. It is the best written book I've read about this subject.