The Curious Bartender: The artistry and alchemy of creating the perfect cocktail
3.5/5
()
Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this ebook
In The Curious Bartender, Tristan Stephenson explores and experiments with the art of mixing the perfect cocktail, explaining the fascinating modern turns mixology has taken. Showcasing a selection of classic cocktails, he explains their intriguing origins, introducing the colourful historical characters who inspired or created them. Moving on, he reinvents each drink from his laboratory, adding contemporary twists to breathe fresh life into these vintage classics. Stay true to the originals with a Sazerac or a Rob Roy, or experiment with some of his modern variations to create a Green Fairy Sazerac topped with an absinthe ‘air’ or an Insta-age Rob Roy with the ‘age’ on the side. Also included is a reference section detailing all the techniques you will need, making this an essential anthology for the cocktail enthusiast.
Tristan Stephenson
Tristan Stephenson is renowned as one of the leading experts in the bar community on cocktail science and molecular mixology. In 2005 he set up the bar at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Cornwall, before taking on a role as Brand Ambassador for the Reserve Brands Group in 2007, training bartenders at some of the highest regarded bars and restaurants in the UK, including The Ritz. In 2009 he co-founded Fluid Movement, a breakthrough consultancy company for the drinks industry which lead to the opening of his London bars Purl, The Worship Street Whistling Shop and Black Rock. Tristan makes TV appearances, is a contributor to print and online drinks publications and a judge at international spirit competitions. He is the author of the bestselling The Curious Bartender: The Artistry & Alchemy of Creating the Perfect Cocktail; the following books in the Curious Bartender series: An Odyssey of Malt, Bourbon & Rye Whiskies; Gin Palace; and Rum Revolution.
Read more from Tristan Stephenson
The Curious Barista's Guide to Coffee Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Curious Bartender: The artistry and alchemy of creating the perfect cocktail Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Curious Bartender's Gin Palace Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Curious Bartender: An Odyssey of Malt, Bourbon & Rye Whiskies Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Curious Bartender's Guide to Rum Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Curious Bartender's Guide to Malt, Bourbon & Rye Whiskies Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Curious Bartender Volume II: The New Testament of Cocktails Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCocktails At Home Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to The Curious Bartender
Related ebooks
The Modern Mixologist: Contemporary Classic Cocktails Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Bar Chef: A Modern Approach to Cocktails Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Canon Cocktail Book: Recipes from the Award-Winning Bar Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDrink Like a Bartender Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Cocktails on Tap: The Art of Mixing Spirits and Beer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Everything Bartender's Book: Your Complete Guide to Cocktails, Martinis, Mixed Drinks, and More! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsElevated Cocktails: Craft Bartending With Montanya Rum Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHarry Johnson's New and Improved Bartender's Manual; or, How to Mix Drinks of the Present Style: A Reprint of the 1882 Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsVintage Cocktails: Forgotten Cocktails and Timeless Drinks Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Drink Like a Man: The Only Cocktail Guide Anyone Really Needs Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Cocktail Club: A Year of Recipes and Tips for Spirited Tasting Parties Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Modern Cocktails: Dozens of Cool and Classic Mixed Drinks to Make You the Life of the Party Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCocktail Construction: The Complete Toolkit for Home Bartenders Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMocktails: More Than 50 Recipes for Delicious Non-Alcoholic Cocktails, Punches, and More Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Lime and a Shaker: Discovering Mexican-Inspired Cocktails Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe PDT Cocktail Book: The Complete Bartender's Guide from the Celebrated Speakeasy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bartender Magazine's Ultimate Bartender's Guide: More than 1,300 Drinks from the World's Best Bartenders Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Kentucky Bourbon Cocktail Book Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Forgotten Maryland Cocktails: A History of Drinking in the Free State Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsShaker Sutra: The Tulleeho Book of Cocktails Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNew Mocktails Bible: All Occasion Guide to an Alcohol-Free, Zero-Proof, No-Regrets, Sober-Curious Lifestyle Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTimeless Vintage Drinks & Cocktails: Here's to You! (a bartender's guide) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sakepedia: A Non-Traditional Guide to Japan’s Traditional Beverage Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsW. C. Whitfield's Mixed Drinks and Cocktails: An Illustrated, Old-School Bartender's Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChasing the Dram: Finding the Spirit of Whisky Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Bar Back, First Shift Bartender: How To Become A Professional Bartender & Make Huge Tips!, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLittle Book of Questions on Cocktails Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSake Confidential: A Beyond-the-Basics Guide to Understanding, Tasting, Selection, and Enjoyment Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Beverages For You
The Bar Book: Elements of Cocktail Technique Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-Culture Foods, 2nd Edition Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Super Smoothies for NutriBullet: More Than 75 Simple Recipes to Supercharge Your Health Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDetox Juicing: 3-Day, 7-Day, and 14-Day Cleanses for Your Health and Well-Being Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Craft Coffee: A Manual Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Homemade Ice Cream Recipes: Over 200 Sweet Daily and Seasonal Recipes for Your Homemade Ice Creams with Local Ingredients Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDistilling Made Easy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Fully Raw Diet: 21 Days to Better Health, with Meal and Exercise Plans, Tips, and 75 Recipes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wild Tea: Grow, gather, brew & blend 40 ingredients & 30 recipes for healthful herbal teas Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Eat Like a Gilmore: The Unofficial Cookbook for Fans of Gilmore Girls Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fancy Af Cocktails: Drink Recipes from a Couple of Professional Drinkers Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBartending For Dummies Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Giant Cocktails: Party Drinks, Punch Bowls, and Other Beverages to Share—25 Delicious Recipes Perfect for Groups Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTea: Reference to Go: 50 Ways to Prepare, Serve, and Enjoy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The PDT Cocktail Book: The Complete Bartender's Guide from the Celebrated Speakeasy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mocktails: More Than 50 Recipes for Delicious Non-Alcoholic Cocktails, Punches, and More Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5New Mocktails Bible: All Occasion Guide to an Alcohol-Free, Zero-Proof, No-Regrets, Sober-Curious Lifestyle Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Ultimate Bar Book: The Comprehensive Guide to Over 1,000 Cocktails Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Unofficial Disney Parks Drink Recipe Book: From LeFou's Brew to the Jedi Mind Trick, 100+ Magical Disney-Inspired Drinks Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBlackthorn's Botanical Brews: Herbal Potions, Magical Teas, and Spirited Libations Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Complete Cocktail Manual: 285 Tips, Tricks & Recipes Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Eat To Live Diet: The Ultimate Step by Step Cheat Sheet on How To Lose Weight & Sustain It Now Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Mocktails Made Me Do It: 60 Delightful Cocktails for the Mindful Drinker Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSimply Smoothies: 200 Refreshing Drinks for Life, Health, and Fun Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for The Curious Bartender
2 ratings1 review
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I was leery of this book, The curious bartender : the artistry and alchemy of creating the perfect cocktail, when I first picked it up. The cover is elaborate, it is printed on heavy, marbled paper, I would almost call it cardstock. Every page has a full color illustration, very often a full page photograph. Overproduced was what I thought and I expected it to be more flash than bang, pretty but shallow. Then I started reading the introduction and the author, Tristan Stephenson, was talking about molecular gastronomy, rotary evaporators, “sous vide”, and other terms that were Greek to me. My expectations plummeted. When I crack open a bottle of spirits I want to find grain or fruit, yeast, heat, oak essence, and centuries of experience. When I mix a cocktail I want simplicity and tradition, fresh fruit juice, spirits, maybe a liqueur or a flavored syrup. I don’t want to have anything to do with a chemistry set. If not for the pictures of delicious looking drinks I might have not bothered to read the book but it was a gift and those pictures did look good. Then he explained that an emulsion is nothing more exotic than meringue on a pie or the foam on top of a Ramos Gin Fizz. So I carried on. The first section covers techniques needed to make traditional and new age drinks. Stephenson writes well and does a good job explaining the techniques. The only problem is that I have no interest in using smoke or dry ice, or dehydrating something to make my guests a drink. Still the parts I was interested in, even something as simple as using ice, the difference between shaking and stirring a drink is explained so clearly that I was surprised at how much I did not know. The second section recipes, it is divided according to type of spirit, gin, vodka, brandy, whiskey, rum, and tequila. He focuses on popular drinks that have been around the block a few times. I appreciated this, I see a book or app full of drink recipes and I have know idea which are popular and which are filler. Stephenson’s years experience behind a bar shows in his selection of drinks. He lists two recipes for each drink, the traditional way and his new age, molecular, distilled, aged, frozen alchemy. How many frozen alcoholic lollipops or daiquiri sherberts do we really need? I was skeptical and I suspect that my lip was curling up in disgust at a few of the renovated drinks. Then we got to the rum drinks and I started to soften. He pointed out, as I have suspected, that the first Cuba Libras had a bit of cocaine in them courtesy of the coke in Coca-Cola. He gives a great “traditional” recipe then uses his wizardry to recreate the original drink. He recreates the original Coke, even concocting a basil-clove infusion to mimic the mouth numbing effects of the cocaine Coke. Then he moves on the the Flip, a century old hot rum drink that originally was made by plunging a red hot poker into the drink to heat it. He explains the evolution away from the hot poker to using an egg for the texture but then he writes, “but there’s no substitution for a hot poker in life” and proceeds to explain how and why to make it the old way. By the time I got to the appendices, a very useful glossary, index and list of suppliers for the standard and exotic tools and ingredients in the book, my opinion had softened. I still think the book paid too much attention to production but there is good solid information for even an unambitious home bartender like me. The modern techniques are not my style but, I have to confess that I would not turn down a chance to try some of them.