The Professional Bartender’s Handbook: A Recipe for Every Drink Known – Including Tricks and Games to Impress Your Guests

From Alien Love Juice to the classic Manhattan, the Professional Bartender’s Handbook by Valerie Mallema, is quite complete, not only in its collection of 1,500 drink recipes but in its sheer amount of useful advice in all things pertaining to running a successful bar.

Mallema offers her readers an indepth, but straight-forward, look into the bar business, whether that be in opening a bar or club or in setting up the at-home bar. It’s a great read for both the beginning bartender and the entrepreneur.

Useful information abounds when it comes to the different types of beers, liquors and wines, pairing wine with food, using bartending tools, slicing fruit and pouring an accurate shot. There’s information on how much liquor to buy for a party to how to determine profits when purchasing an alcohol establishment. Entrepreneurs can get a good idea of what it will take to open their dream bar, from choosing a theme and furnishings to financing and researching liquor and labor laws.

And, with a section on drinking games and toasting suggestions, the Professional Bartender’s Handbook is way more than just a collection of recipes.

5 stars

Rating: 5 / 5

Ever wonder what the difference is between Irish whiskey and Scotch whiskey or a lambic and a lager? Or whether that bottle of tequila is still drinkable? Do you know what V.S.O.P. stands for? Want to brush up on your skills as a sommelier? Whether throwing a fantastic party or tending bar professionally, this is an indispensable reference to keep on hand.

Ms. Mellema provides a rundown on setting up a bar complete with lists of how much and what kinds of alcohol and accoutrements to buy, and offers tips on management including how to obtain a liquor license and the different types of insurance policies the prospective bar owner is likely to encounter. But the real meat of the book is the nearly comprehensive listing of drink recipes. While I do have to take off points because there’s no recipe for a mojito (there is a recipe for caipirinhas, though), I was really impressed with how many off-the-beaten-path drinks are included. I ran several of the more difficult drink requests past my favorite local bartender and they weren’t even in her book!

But although I’ve discovered several new drinks I love and learned a few new toasts, my favorite part of this book is definitely the final chapter in which bartenders talk about their favorite (and most hated) things about their profession. I have a lot more sympathy for bartenders now, and I won’t be ordering frozen drinks anymore!

Rating: 4 / 5

Collections catering to culinary professionals, especially bartenders, will find here an excellent handbook which offers tips and tricks to running a bar, big or small. From recipes for nearly 1,500 different cocktails, shooters and even some non-alcoholic drinks to tips on developing drink promotions and refining presentation, The Professional Bartender’s Handbook should be on the shelves of any library catering to food professionals.
Rating: 5 / 5