Oxford Night Caps
(1827) - A truly fantastic book that manages to summarize hundreds of years of English drink-making in one book.
Amaro by Brad Thomas Parsons
A great resource on amari available in the U.S. by the foremost American expert on the subject.
Cocktail Chronicles by Paul Clarke
This one is great because it groups drinks together that have similar structure or ingredients. That's helpful when trying to build a framework of learning about cocktails
Punch by David Wondrich
A great survey of the history of punch, which is one of two major ancestors of the cocktail.
Imbibe by David Wondrich
Imbibe! will teach you all about the origins of the American cocktail.
PDT Cocktail Book by Jim Meehan
First cocktail book I got and it's a great snapshot of the cocktail renaissance of the late '90s/2000s as well as recipes for classics
American Cider by Dan Pucci & Craig Cavallo
A history of American cider that also highlights leaders in the modern cider movement.
Uncultivated by Andy Brennan
This book tells the story of cider through the experience of one modern cider-maker who is chasing the olde ways.
The New Wine Rules by Jon Bonné
This liberating book outlines the changes in the wine industry and in our attitudes toward what we like to drink and why.
The Oxford Companion to Beer by Garrett Oliver
A sweeping survey of beer that demonstrates its long history and the many styles that exist today.
Handbook of Fine Brandies by Gordon Brown
A solid reference for all types of brandy, from Cognac and Armagnac to fruit brandies from around the world.
The Big Book of Amaro by Matteo Zed
The latest comprehensive source on bitter digestivi from Italy.
Cocktail À L’Americaine by Zac Overman
A compendium of the wonderful drinks served at L’Oursin in Seattle, WA.
Sherry by Talia Baiocchi
A very good primer on sherry and the history of the category, with recipes from cocktail history and modern bartenders.
The Bar Book by Jeffrey Morgenthaler
A great reference for bartending technique and drink hacks from one of the great innovators of the modern bartending world.
Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails by David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum
This substantial volume is the best reference book to date on various spirits, wines, and liqueurs, as well as the history of the American Cocktail.
Easy Tiki by Chloe Frechette
Frechette’s book captures the essence of post 1930s tropical drinks in an easily digestible format.
Potions of the Caribbean by Jeff Berry
A look at how tiki was born of Caribbean drinking culture and colonialism.