Books
Drinkhacker’s books category covers everything from the history of drink to cocktail recipe collections and more. Books are rated using the same letter grade scale as our beverage reviews.
Top Book Posts:
The Waldorf Astoria Bar Book
Drink: A Cultural History of Alcohol
Japanese Whisky
Cork Dork
Honestly, I don’t think there are 101 gins you need to try before you die. I would be surprised if there were 20. Ian Buxton makes a case for the former, however, in his slim, straightforward book — which was recently revised and updated, and it’s easy to get sucked in. The usual suspects are…
I love a good infographic or flowchart, and I know I’m not alone. For Carey Jones and John McCarthy (a husband and wife team), getting you to your perfect cocktail is a matter of science, and Be Your Own Bartender is built around the idea that if you answer a few simple questions, you can…
Even the staunchest of whiskey enthusiasts would be hard pressed to deny that the landscape of spirits has changed over the last two decades. The bourbon boom, followed by the insatiable demand for Japanese imports along with the increase in notoriety for high-end single malt Scotch and the recent craft renaissance have all diversified the…
Andre Darlington seems to be on quite a roll. The co-author of one of our favorite drinks books from 2020, Booze & Vinyl, returns in 2021 with Booze Cruise: A Tour of The World’s Essential Mixed Drinks, another 200+ page resource designed to help you find the right cocktail for the right occasion. Equal turns…
In a country rife with craft beer, wine, and bourbon makers, cider’s place in American lore may not pique as great an interest to most readers. However, for centuries it has quietly stood amidst the noise of other boisterous spirit giants as a humble American beverage. As journalist Craig Cavallo and cider expert Dan Pucci…
The phrase “I know it when I see it” has entered common parlance over the last half century, its origins stemming from a landmark 1964 U.S. Supreme Court case where Justice Stewart used it as a means to categorize observations, even though the category in question could be interpreted through a lens of considerable subjectivity.…
With Scotch: A Complete Introduction to Scotland’s Whiskies, Margarett Waterbury has written an inclusive and comprehensive guide to Scotland’s distilling industry that is one third sharp-eyed historical narrative, one third orientation course for casual drinkers and newcomers that is welcoming, and one third directory full of reviews and listings for over 200 single malt, grain,…
Sake has been on the rise with champagne cellar master collaborations and delivery services. There is also a growing number books to build upon the foundations set by John Gauntner’s The Sake Handbook and Sake Confidential. The latest book is The Japanese Sake Bible by Brian Ashcraft. The title reminds me of Karen MacNeil’s The…
Some recipe books end up dog-eared and well-worn beyond acceptable levels for even book lovers to keep on shelves. However, for those who call upon their wisdom with regularity, they become a badge of honor and reliable wisdom on which to lean. They are filled with Post-It notes of numerous colors peeking out from the…
If there are matters we can count upon, as events have played out over the last several days, it is this: Jim Murray does not lie awake at night wondering what you think. Jim Murray quite clearly does not sit in front of a word processor agonizing over word choice in his reviews. Jim Murray…