Book Review: Steve the Bartender’s Cocktail Guide

Steve the Bartender’s Cocktail Guide prides itself on accessibility, with both classic cocktails, and variations that will pique the curiosity of seasoned drink masters. With well over 100 recipes, it is quite easy to find something which can appeal to every taste and situation and doesn’t require previous knowledge or advanced expertise. It’s also quite easy on the eyes: full-color photos with lovely compositions are on complementary pages next to their recipes. There’s a temptation to completely forget the true reason why you’re there (to make a drink), and have a seat to just flip through pages, absentmindedly selecting which recipe to tackle next.

Steve (last name: Roennfeldt) organizes the book the way most cocktail books ought to: presenting a brief overview of essential ingredients, tools, glassware, and techniques before diving in headfirst to recipes organized by main ingredient. Each recipe is laid out in a very clean and considered fashion, with overviews by type, method, year of origin, necessary glassware and garnish (if applicable) across the top before delivering a bit of cocktail context. There are also handy QR codes at the bottom, leading the reader to online videos with step-by-step demonstrations. I can not recall any other cocktail recipe book currently offering this as an added content bonus.

I’m especially motivated to stretch outside my comfort zone and attempt to make an East 8 Hold Up – which combines vodka, Aperol, pineapple juice, lime juice, simple syrup, and passion fruit syrup together in an Old Fashioned glass. I will most likely enjoy my East 8 Hold Up while listening to “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out.” I’m also looking forward to Steve’s take on the Sherry Cobbler, which adds lemon juice and lemon zest to the mix prior to shaking.

I do not know Steve the Bartender personally, but his personality comes through in his guide and it’s one worth investing in, should you be in the market for an easy, no-frills, comprehensive guide to the classics. The QR Codes linking to video content are an inspiring addition, giving him an edge over the competition in an already crowded market.

A / $26 [BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON]

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