The New American Bartender's Guide

Rating:
Summary: worthy of a toast
Review: Although the title makes it seem as though this book is for professional bartenders, you don't have to work behind a bar to find this book helpful. In fact, it's easy-to-use format is terrific for we regular folks who love to entertain. Colorful, lively, ultimately useful, this is a fine book.

Rating:
Summary: Use this book as a secondary source
Review: As a beginner to mixing drinks, I found this book a disappointment. For instance, you will find no guidance on how to make a twisted lemon or orange peel. This book will also emphasize premium brands over more economical substitutes. For instance, this book calls for Cointreau in a Cosmopolitan, whereas The Complete Bartender calls for Triple Sec, which can be a much cheaper alternative.

The physical layout of the book is poor, it is thick and does not stay open easily; the typeface is small. It does have "bartender's secrets" providing tips on such topics as precise pouring, but these tips are scattered randomly throughout the book without any index.

Buy this book if you are interested in what appears to be rare cocktail recipes. It also has a two or three page history on each major alcohol, which is interesting. However, I ended up buying The Complete Bartender, which I far prefer (the typeface is very readable and the recipes far more reasonable but still varied enough to be interesting).

Rating:
Summary: everything you need and beyond
Review: as a seasoned bartender I found this book to be a very complete and well organized guide to the world of bartending. although a complete beginner to the world of bartending will find it a bit ovet the top , I highly recomend this book to every working or home bartender looking to improve his craftmanship.

Rating:
Summary: Over Loaded
Review: This book is packed full with recipes on drinks, but I wouldn't suggest this book if your just starting out with Bartending. It doesn't tell you how to pour or what not to mix togather. But if your good at that this is the book for you.