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The 12 Bottle Bar: Make Hundreds of Cocktails with Just Twelve Bottles

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Description

It’s a system, a tool kit, a recipe book. Beginning with one irresistible idea --a complete home bar of just 12 key bottles--here’s how to make more than 200 classic and unique mixed drinks, including sours, slings, toddies, and highballs, plus the perfect Martini, the perfect Manhattan, and the perfect Mint Julep. It’s a surprising guide--tequila didn’t make the cut, and neither did bourbon, but genever did. And it’s a literate guide--describing with great liveliness everything from the importance of vermouth and bitters (the “salt and pepper” of mixology) to the story of a punch bowl so big it was stirred by a boy in a rowboat. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Workman Publishing Company; Illustrated edition (July 29, 2014)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Paperback ‏ : ‎ 416 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 076117494X


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 43


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 1 x 8.5 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #152,019 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #182 in Alcoholic Spirits #222 in Cocktails & Mixed Drinks #241 in Budget Cooking


#182 in Alcoholic Spirits:


#222 in Cocktails & Mixed Drinks:


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If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Monday, Nov 25

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Top Amazon Reviews


  • Economical Sense for the Wannabe Mixologist
This is a fantastic book. I'm not a serious drinker, but ever since getting into a culinary program I've become more interested in cocktail-making (and drinking). Pros: - Keeps things real and economical by limiting to just 12 bottles. So far I'm doing just the 8 bottle bar and am getting a lot of practice (vodka, gin, rye whiskey, brandy, sweet & dry vermouth, orange liqueur, and aromatic bitter). - There are "extras" you need to make like simple syrup, honey syrup, etc., but it's simple. For example honey syrup is just "honey + warm water". I bought my grenadine since I live in an area with locally made cocktail ingredients. - Fun stories littered throughout the book. - Book tells you that recipes asking for martini glasses are for 4.5 oz glasses (so I bought 5 oz glasses). - Each recipe recommends what glass container to use, the ice, and how many people it's for. - There is an extra chapter (ch 14) focused on beer, wine, and cider mixes which is super cool. - There is a section on the back that suggests drinks based on themed night (i.e. poker night, Christmas, etc.) Cons: - It doesn't really say how to scale a cocktail drink for 2-3 people. If drinking alone that's fine. But if I have 1-2 guests over I guess I would have to start all the way at the beginning to make a drink for each person, rather than mix enough for more and just pour multiple glasses. However, there are some recipes in the book which are batch, party-sized. - When the books ask for fruit slices it doesn't specify how to slice it or if you need to peel it (except for pineapple which says skin removed). - It would be super cool if there was a section in the back that lists the syrups in the book and then all the recipes that ask for that syrup. For example, if I have an extra batch of honey syrup in the fridge I would have to search the book for a recipe that uses it. ************ This is a win for the home bartender or wannabe mixologist. I don't want to become a professional bartender, I just want to try out flavors and impress friends/girls. This book is a great starting point because it focuses on starting with a small bar. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2015 by fanofuna

  • will absolutely have you making drinks you would not have normally made
with just 12 bottles and a huge number of recipes you will make drinks that you have never seen before. a great way to entertain on a budget. love this book and its drinks.
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2023 by Michael A. Bryan

  • Fun, Informative, Tasty
Great little book for not that much money. An essential for new (and old) bartenders. Not just for the recipes - I love the anecdotes and stories. One drawback: I'm sad how little attention Rye gets despite being a full fledged bottle of of the bar. It's understandable not every drink can get some love since the whole point is a 12 bottle bar. But if you're going to include a drink, why put only a few recipes in its 3 or 4 page section when other sections are 50+ pages long? Another slight criticism is that the book leans very heavily on egg white recipes which I cannot try because of allergies - I've read online some substitutes (Fee Foam or Aquafaba), but probably should have been mentioned in the book. Overall very good. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2020 by Allison

  • Informative and entertaining
I learned a lot from this book, including lots of great recipes. I followed the authors' recommendation on which liquor to buy and loved each of them-well, maybe not the Geneve! I have given this book as a gift to several friends and recommend it without hesitation. It has saved me hundreds (no, thousands) of dollars knowing that "premium" liquors don't have to cost an arm and a leg. As a recovering Southern Baptist, this book was a Godsend! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2022 by OKG

  • Great selection and Helpful Tips
My husband bought me this for my birthday with a bar-tending kit, since I've always dreamed of being one of those glamorous hostesses from the fifties who mix drinks in their pearls. This book has been fantastic! Love the variety of drinks included, and I love the suggested bottles for each alcohol type. I've followed their recommendations for the most part and haven't been disappointed. Personally, I'm a nerd, and I love how they include little fun fact tidbits about the different drinks they've included as well. Great book to get you started in your mixology journey! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2021 by Rebekah

  • Have bought multiple copies of this book
If you are clueless (like me) about cocktails, then this is your book. I have gifted multiple copies of this to friends. It is designed to be a starting point for knowledge and practice. It can even be a final stop if it suits you and you will be just fine. I have used it for 10 years plus. I just made a Fedora for the first time tonight! Yummy!! If you buy this for the brandy milk punch alone (Christmas in a glass), it is worth it. My cocktails are now better than most any bar tender I come across. I want a hardbound to be made available. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2022 by William

  • Great Book for the Home Enthusiasts
This is a great book for not only someone that wants to start a home bar but for someone that wants to learn a bit of history, many recipes (as well as versions of) and tips/tricks of the trade. This book is written very well, enjoyable to read and full of all kinds of information. I have always enjoyed a good cocktail, but they always seem to be shrouded in some secret bar tenders socity that makes it impossible to recreate at home. This unlocks the secrets and makes it easy and practical to do at home!! Congrats and thanks. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2018 by Kanro11415

  • I like the concept very much
Just OK. I've tried several of the recipes so far and the drinks have been...just OK. I like the concept very much...who wants to buy a lot of expensive liqueurs that you use once or twice and then sit forever on your shelf? I like the background information on the development of various liquors and cocktails. Perhaps, to be fair, I should wait to review the book until I've made half or more of the drinks. (I've made about 4 or so. BTW I advise avoiding the capresetini. Cute idea but the drink looked awful and tasted not so good.) Also disappointing is any reference book (which a book of recipes, for cocktails or foods, is) in ebook format. I should've learned my lesson from travel guides and a dictionary that I attempted to use this way. Searching is just too hard. I find that if I want to make a traditional cocktail, the specialty of this book, rather than search through the ebook 12 Bottle Bar, I'll just pick up my paper Ultimate Bar Book by Mittle Hellmich, highly, HIGHLY recommended, and use that. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2014 by Walter

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