This list of cocktail-related books is a work in progress, so please do let us know if you have additional resources or information we should include. After each entry are known sources of the work, for many of the older ones free downloadable copies, and commentary from Dinah on her research experience with this resource. For sources prior to 1950 we've attempted to locate confirmation of the book's definite existence at that time, usually through Library of Congress Copyright records, contemporary reviews or advertising, or similar sources from the year of publication.
Section 1: 1861 and before (Gothic Age of Cocktail Drinking)
Section 2: 1862–1894 (Golden Age of Cocktail Drinking)
Section 3: 1895–1919 (Old School of Bartending)
Section 4: 1920-1933 (Prohibition)
Section 5: 1934–1951 (Years of Reform)
1952–1968 (Era of the Rat Pack)
- 1954. Clark, Eddie. King Cocktail: Shake again with Eddie. London: Eddie Clark.
- Available as a PDF from EUVS.
- 1964. Asociación Mutual de Barmen y Afines de la República Argentina. Manual del Bar: Cocktails (second edition). Buenos Aires: Talleres Gráficos "Optimus" S.R. L.
- Available as a PDF from EUVS.
- 1966. Kardahi, Mario. Tratado Práctico de Coctelería Pastelería y Afines. Buenos Aires: Editorial Escorpio.
- Available as a PDF from EUVS.
Section 7: 1969–1989 (Dark Age of Cocktail Drinking)
Section 8: 1990–2004 (Revival of Cocktail Drinking)
Section 9: 2005–present (Era of Old School Innovation)
Thanks to the following for their helpful bibliographies, collections of resources, or other assistance: the Internet Archive (donate here to support their wonderful work!); librarians everywhere but especially Marvin Taylor and Kelly Turner; David Wondrich, whose work is a constant inspiration and whose source notes in the 2015 edition of his book Imbibe provide valuable context for many works, in addition to the other notes he has kindly permitted me to share here; Lowell Edmunds, whose page "Pre-1910 Bartender's Manuals and Other Books Containing Cocktail Recipes: A Bibliography" was indispensable; Anistatia Miller, Jared Brown, and Exposition Universelle des Vins et Spiritueux, whose comments as well as collection have proven most helpful; Andrew "the Alchemist" Willett, for his "Books on Drink: A History (with ratings)" page as well as his posts; Joerg Meyer, for his unfailing enthusiasm as well as his rare mixology book list; Rabelais fine books on food & drink, for their detailed catalog notes; Erik Ellestad for his uniquely thorough experimentation with the Savoy Cocktail Book and general knowledge of measurements and substitutions; Jeffrey Masson, for his Boothby knowledge; the Difford's Guide team, for their balanced judgment; Paul Clarke, for his good will and hard work on behalf of his fellow drink nerds; Marcovaldo Dionysos, for his ready wit and extensive book list; John C. Burton, for kindly sharing his extensive bibliography and knowing more about "Cocktail Bill" Boothby than anyone.
If you are the author of a book listed above and you have an Amazon Associates account, please drop us an email with an improved link to replace our code with yours. Maintaining this page is work and referral fees help us keep it up, but for your own book you are more deserving of that tip!
Sadly some books once held by libraries have been stolen from us all. Library thieves suffer in an even lower circle of Hell than vile people who sneak out of bars without paying, those who snap their fingers to get the bartender's attention, and non-tippers. If you, in your youthful foolishness, committed such a sin, in order to be absolved you must put that book in a well-padded envelope and slip it into the book drop to return it to our common resources.
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