although perhaps a few steps beyond my level of cocktail making I loved this book for the basics - the review of the core basics of drinks, both the traditions, the exansions and variations as well as the chemistry of them. For instance, their house Dark and Stormy includes a custom ginger syrup and fresh lime, when you can just add ginger beer and squeeze two lime wedges. This is stuff (aside from infusions) that you should honestly avoid until you know what you're doing, but it's all very cool and raises your horizons of what a cocktail can be.

The Cocktail Codex is one of our favourite cocktail books and helps you understand the science behind the recipe, rather than just following it step by step.Once you understand the hows and whys of each “family,” you’ll understand why some cocktails work and others don’t, when to shake and when to stir, what you can omit and what you can substitute when you’re missing ingredients, why you like the drinks you do, and what sorts of drinks you should turn to—or invent—if you want to try something new.

Amontillado sherry is a fortified wine that gives the cocktail both body and acidity, making it a strong backbone for the drink. Replace the high-proof whiskey in an Old-Fashioned with a larger quantity of low-proof amontillado sherry, and swap muddled orange slices for the bitters, you have a Cobbler.From techniques to mixing different ingredients to playing around with syrups and bitters this book is the best! Each "main six" cocktail, for instance the Old Fashioned, will be broken down into its core (whiskey), balance (sugar/syrup), and seasoning (bitters). Whether it’s classics like the daiquiri or Aperol Spritz, or unique creations like today’s cocktail, the Smokescreen – I always know I can count on that book, regardless of what mood I’m in.