Cocktails are delicious and fun, but it's even more entertaining to make them yourself. Whether you're planning a tiki party or just looking to recreate your bar favourites at home, a cocktail recipe book is just what you need. There's something to suit everyone's tastes, including mocktail books and those highlighting whisky or gin-based drinks.
We've put together a guide to help you select a suitable title and ranked the ten best cocktail books in the UK for beginners and budding mixologists alike. We've included some popular reads like The Cocktail Bible, Tequila Mockingbird and The Savoy Cocktail Book and linked where to buy them from Amazon and eBay. There's even something for Potterheads!
Whether you're a mixology expert or making cocktails for the first time, there are a few things you should consider when buying a cocktail book. If you follow our tips, you're sure to find the best recipe collection for your needs.
Do you have a favourite type of alcohol? Some recipe books focus on specific spirits like gin, whisky or Prosecco. You can experiment by making lots of drinks containing different fruits and herbs, all with the familiarity of your favourite tipple. These books are a great way to discover new drinks you're almost guaranteed to enjoy.
Alternatively, you could stick to a classic book containing recipes with all sorts of spirits as their bases. Branch out and try one of these books if you're up for trying anything. They're also great for parties, where you might want to cater to a range of different tastes.
You can get the whole family involved in the cocktail making experience if you choose a book that contains non-alcoholic recipes. The kids won't feel left out as they'll be able to make fancy mocktails that look just as good as the real thing.
If you're planning a cocktail party, you should consider one of these books. Some guests may be driving or tee-total, and it's always good to have refreshments that everyone can enjoy. Plus, these books are great for occasional drinkers. When you're not in the mood for something alcoholic but want an exciting drink, you can try out a mocktail recipe.
Cocktail books with recipes for themed drinks make great gifts. If you know someone who likes reading, you could buy them a title featuring drinks that have a literary twist. Some other popular cocktail book themes include Harry Potter, fantasy and vintage.
These books are also essential for special occasions and parties. If you've planned a costume party, themed drinks add to the atmosphere and help guests immerse themselves in the experience. Harry Potter and fantasy books are particularly good for Halloween dinners and parties.
Don't worry, not every book is themed as some contain straightforward recipes. These books will teach you how to make familiar bar drinks at home. Perfect for people who aren't after anything too flashy!
Most cocktail books contain an introduction alongside recipes, with a few tips and some information on specific types of alcohol. If you've never made cocktails before or are looking to master the art of mixology, you'll need something that goes more in-depth.
Look for books with a teaching guide that contains separate sections with pointers for making the best cocktails. These guides often have useful information about techniques and methods, like dry shaking and straining. Some even teach you how to present the drinks, with key information on glassware and decoration.
Teaching guides are all well and good, but the main thing you want to get from a cocktail book is recipes. How many a book contains can vary greatly, from 50 all the way up to 750! Books with fewer recipes are ideal for occasional drinkers, whereas you'll want more if you experiment with cocktails often.
You should also bear in mind that books with more recipes tend to go into less detail. They are better for more advanced users, as they normally only contain a list of ingredients with very brief (if any) instructions. Beginners might prefer instructions written in more detail.
Things are about to get exciting because it's time to see our countdown of the top 10 best cocktail recipe books. We've got some great choices and have even included some books with film-themed drinks. Get your party hat at the ready!
£15.16
Alcohol | Various |
---|---|
Non-Alcoholic Options | No |
Theme | Harry Potter |
Teaching Guide | No |
Recipe Quantity | 55 |
Formats | Hardcover |
£11.32
Alcohol | Mixed |
---|---|
Non-Alcoholic Options | No |
Theme | Vintage |
Teaching Guide | No |
Recipe Quantity | 750 |
Formats | Paperback, hardcover, Kindle |
£6.54
Alcohol | Gin |
---|---|
Non-Alcoholic Options | No |
Theme | - |
Teaching Guide | No |
Recipe Quantity | 50 |
Formats | Hardcover, Kindle |
£7.50
Alcohol | Whisky |
---|---|
Non-Alcoholic Options | No |
Theme | - |
Teaching Guide | No |
Recipe Quantity | 60 |
Formats | Hardcover, Kindle |
£5.00
Alcohol | Mixed |
---|---|
Non-Alcoholic Options | Yes |
Theme | - |
Teaching Guide | Yes |
Recipe Quantity | 80 |
Formats | Hardcover, Kindle |
£8.26
Alcohol | Mixed |
---|---|
Non-Alcoholic Options | No |
Theme | - |
Teaching Guide | Yes |
Recipe Quantity | 200 |
Formats | Flexibound, Kindle |
£8.99
Alcohol | Mixed |
---|---|
Non-Alcoholic Options | Yes |
Theme | Fantasy book, TV, film and game |
Teaching Guide | No |
Recipe Quantity | 70 |
Formats | Hardcover, Kindle |
£6.55
Alcohol | Mixed |
---|---|
Non-Alcoholic Options | No |
Theme | - |
Teaching Guide | No |
Recipe Quantity | 40 |
Formats | Hardcover |
£8.44
Alcohol | Mixed |
---|---|
Non-Alcoholic Options | Yes |
Theme | Literary |
Teaching Guide | Yes |
Recipe Quantity | 65 |
Formats | Hardcover, Kindle |
£9.90
Alcohol | Various |
---|---|
Non-Alcoholic Options | No |
Theme | - |
Teaching Guide | Yes |
Recipe Quantity | 52 |
Formats | Paperback, Kindle |
Image | 1 ![]() The Essential Cocktail Book | 2 ![]() Tim Federle | 3 ![]() Laura Gladwin | 4 ![]() Cassandra Reeder | 5 ![]() Bounty Books | 6 ![]() David Hurst | 7 ![]() Lance J. Mayhew | 8 ![]() Dog 'n' Bone Books | 9 ![]() The Savoy Hotel | 10 ![]() Jessica Woods |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Classic and Modern Cocktail Recipes for Every Day | Tequila Mockingbird | Prosecco Cocktails | The Geeky Bartender Drinks | The Cocktail Bible | The Virgin Cocktail Garden | Whisky Made Me Do It | Gin the Mood | The Savoy Cocktail Book | The Harry Potter Cocktail Cookbook |
Features | The Only Cocktail Guide You’ll Need | A Clever and Witty Read That's Won an Award | Fizzy Drinks With Your Favourite Bubbly | TV Show, Film, Book and Game-Themed Drinks | Learn the Skilled Art of Mixology | Ideal for Anyone Cutting Back on Alcohol | Learn Everything You Need to Know About Whisky | A Gin Lover's Dream With Informative Instructions | Vintage Recipes With Art Deco Illustrations | Fun Drinks Fit for Witches and Wizards |
Price | £9.90 | £8.44 | £6.55 | £8.99 | £8.26 | £5.00 | £7.50 | £6.54 | £11.32 | £15.16 |
Alcohol | Various | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Whisky | Gin | Mixed | Various |
Non-Alcoholic Options | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Theme | - | Literary | - | Fantasy book, TV, film and game | - | - | - | - | Vintage | Harry Potter |
Teaching Guide | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Recipe Quantity | 52 | 65 | 40 | 70 | 200 | 80 | 60 | 50 | 750 | 55 |
Formats | Paperback, Kindle | Hardcover, Kindle | Hardcover | Hardcover, Kindle | Flexibound, Kindle | Hardcover, Kindle | Hardcover, Kindle | Hardcover, Kindle | Paperback, hardcover, Kindle | Hardcover |
Link |
Before you make your drinks, you need to buy the right ingredients and tools. For starters, you're going to need a shaker to make sure your drink is mixed correctly. You also need to choose the alcoholic base for your beverage! Check out our guides to help you pick.
Once you purchase your new guide, you'll be enjoying cocktails at home for years to come. We hope you've found our advice helpful and enjoyed looking through our recommendations of the best cocktail books. Let's get the party started!
Author: Rosa Fairfield
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