Rating: 
Summary: Finally a book for professional bartenders!
Review: 'The Craft of the Cocktail' is a massively informative referance that I would have maimed for over thirty years ago when I was first started walking the slats behind the wood. I can't wait to try the new recipes at the pub and in my home. Elegant! Scholarly! Humorous! Easy read! As a Hall of Fame bartender, I have studied my profession in Britain, France and the US and have over four thousand Beverage/Literature books going back to 1821. 'The Craft of the Cocktail' fits honorably among the top five cocktail volumes on my shelves. It is a treasure that I now study and revere. The historical information is accurate and the barroom philosphy uplifting. Serious and aspiring bartenders, if you acquire only one cocktail-making book in your career this definitely should be it. Dale DeGroff is one of the very few people in the saloon business worldwide who could have delivered such an important and complete work. He is an unusual and rare talent and is truly what a professional bartender should be. His playful anecdotes and story telling abilities show he is definitely one of us. Come to the Fox & Hounds in St. Louis to imbibe and discuss this joyous book. If we are very lucky, Mr. DeGroff and some of his mentors might join us in a discussion about the history of our industry. #N.B: Pay attention Cocktail Nation, this is a monumental work!
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding book from the master of mixology
Review: Dale's writing is reliable as his bartending, and just as entertaining. For novices, an introduction to the difference between making a drink and mixing a cocktail. For the professional, a few tricks they've never seen before (unless they were hanging out at the Rainbow Room). Highly recommend this one--and makes a great gift too.
Rating:
Summary: A must-have for any pretender or contender
Review: First of all, I am just a pretender, and I have no intention of ever becoming a professional bartender. With that said, this is definitely one of the best books I have picked up, and definitely the best bartender book I have ever seen. It contains vivid pictures of everything that Mr. Degroff is trying to explain and he gives great tips on everything from knowing what glassware and alcohols to have in your bar to unbelievable mix drink recipies. For those who do not drink, it even contains an unbelievable non-alcholic drink (the citrius cream). This book also makes a great coffee table book. Vistors that come by cannot keep their hands off of it! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to bartend for fun or professionally.
Rating:
Summary: A must-have for any pretender or contender
Review: First of all, I am just a pretender, and I have no intention of ever becoming a professional bartender. With that said, this is definitely one of the best books I have picked up, and definitely the best bartender book I have ever seen. It contains vivid pictures of everything that Mr. Degroff is trying to explain and he gives great tips on everything from knowing what glassware and alcohols to have in your bar to unbelievable mix drink recipies. For those who do not drink, it even contains an unbelievable non-alcholic drink (the citrius cream). This book also makes a great coffee table book. Vistors that come by cannot keep their hands off of it! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to bartend for fun or professionally.
Rating:
Summary: Great book - small critique
Review: I agree with everyone else's praise for this book. It's definitely my "desert island" cocktail book. There are many bad cocktail books out there, there are a few good cocktail books, but this is the only "great" cocktail book. My only gripe is the index is not thorough enough to look up drinks by ingredient. For instance, you can't look up Benedictine and find all drink recipes containing that ingredient.
Rating:
Summary: Much More Than a Cocktail Recipe Book
Review: I found this book to be much more than a great collection of elegant cocktail recipes. De Groff entertains the reader with a history of the cocktail from its early beginnings and the role of bars and barmen in American culture. There's a very useful how-to section for setting up a home bar, an interesting guide to the huge variety of spirits, anecdotes about the drinking habits of the famous, and items of "trivia" that even include a cure for hiccups. The photographs that accompany the text are exquisite.
Rating:
Summary: Great book - small critique
Review: I took a course with Dale and found out first hand what it takes to make a truly great cocktail--and found out how bad most cocktails in bars really are. This book not only tells how to create really memorable drinks for yourself and guests, it also delves into the history of the various spirits and how they've been combined by savvy bartenders to create classics old and new. I've read through it several times, lapping up classics like the sidecar and DeGroff signature drinks like the Ritz. If you like cocktails, this is an amazing book. Nobody cares about getting the best results like Dale.
Rating:
Summary: Master Craftsman shares his wisdom
Review: I took a course with Dale and found out first hand what it takes to make a truly great cocktail--and found out how bad most cocktails in bars really are. This book not only tells how to create really memorable drinks for yourself and guests, it also delves into the history of the various spirits and how they've been combined by savvy bartenders to create classics old and new. I've read through it several times, lapping up classics like the sidecar and DeGroff signature drinks like the Ritz. If you like cocktails, this is an amazing book. Nobody cares about getting the best results like Dale.
Rating:
Summary: He is the King
Review: Miles away in India, I use Dale's ideas and practices to give the best to my Coustomers. A must read for all kinds of bartenders. This book is the "Bagavat Geetha" of Bartending
Rating:
Summary: He is the King
Review: Miles away in India, I use Dale's ideas and practices to give the best to my Coustomers. A must read for all kinds of bartenders. This book is the "Bagavat Geetha" of Bartending
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