The 12 Bottle Bar: Make Hundreds of Cocktails with Just Twelve Bottles

by David Solmonson, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson

Overview

It’s a system, a tool kit, a recipe book. Beginning with one irresistible idea--a complete home bar of just 12 key bottles--here’s how to make more than 200 classic and unique mixed drinks, including sours, slings, toddies, and highballs, plus the perfect Martini, the perfect Manhattan, and the perfect Mint Julep.

It’s a surprising guide--tequila didn’t make the cut, and neither did bourbon, but genever did. And it’s a literate guide--describing with great liveliness everything from the importance of vermouth and bitters (the “salt and pepper” of mixology) to the story of a punch bowl so big it was stirred by a boy in a rowboat.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761181385
Publisher:	Workman Publishing Company
Publication date:	07/29/2014
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	557
File size:	10 MB

About the Author

David Solmonson and Lesley Jacobs Solmonson are the husband-and-wife publishers of the popular blog 12bottlebar.com. Mr. Solmonson has written for both film and television, while Ms. Solmonson, spirits and wine writer for L.A. Weekly, is also the author of Gin: A Global History and the forthcoming Liqueur: A Global History. The Solmonsons live in Los Angeles.

Editorial Reviews

09/01/2014
While many people may have a cocktail recipe or two at the ready, it can seem daunting to stock one's home with the supplies and ingredients needed to create and sample a variety of drinks, especially since many cocktail books demand obscure or expensive ingredients for single recipes. In the Solmonson's first book, the husband-and-wife team's solution is a core set of 12 bottles featuring such stalwarts as gin and golden rum and surprises including absinthe and genever, omitting some common spirits such as vodka and tequila. These building blocks will enable readers to craft a wide range of easy drinks (classic martinis and sours, for example) as well as more involved ones (the Tom and Jerry uses five ingredients including egg batter). The progression from simple to complex and the categorization of cocktails by key ingredient is helpful, and the recipes are clearly written. The authors, meanwhile, encourage experimentation and swapping ingredients to create other, related cocktails. VERDICT This title is sure to have readers wanting to set up home bars and begin exploring for new favorites. Highly recommended for all public libraries.—Peter Hepburn, Coll. of the Canyons Lib., Santa Clarita, CA

Library Journal

Easy, smart, and fun to read." –Men's Journal

"With this book in hand, your 12 bottles will provide at least a year’s worth of excellent drinks, both classic and modern.” –Wall Street Journal

“It's the bane of the home mixologist — complicated cocktail recipes that call for multiple (and often pricey) esoteric liquors doomed to be used once, then linger for years at the back of the cabinet. Convinced there had to be a better way to stock a bar, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson and husband David Solmonson set out to cull the cocktail herd and home in on only the most essential ingredients for great drinking.”
– J.M. Hirsch, Associated Press

“Starting a home bar from scratch can be daunting and expensive… With the right selection, you can keep your stash simple and still be able to make just about every cocktail you could imagine.”
– Brooklynmagazine

“Make enough cocktails to last you a lifetime. Limited to only seven spirits, one liqueur, two vermouths and two styles of bitters, you will indeed have a collection that in many ways will exceed most typical bars around the country.”
– Good Spirits News

“Here’s to smart barkeeping: Make hundreds of cocktails from a mere dozen bottles.”
– Cooking Light

“A great home bar is an abridged one… The 12 Bottle Bar offers tips on stocking enough liquor to keep your cocktail list large but your investment small.”
– Los Angeles magazine

“An innovative idea.”
–Town Country

“Covers the bases of modern cocktail making thoroughly.”
– Kindred Cocktails

“Maximum cocktail potential from just a few bottles.”
– Liquor.com

“The perfect precursor to a establishing a successful home or café beverage program.”
– Fresh Cup

“How many cocktails could you make using just 12 bottles without sacrificing flavor, technique, or creativity? The answer: enough to give your local molecular mixologist a run for his money.”
– Publishers Weekly—AP

From the Publisher

It's the bane of the home mixologist — complicated cocktail recipes that call for multiple (and often pricey) esoteric liquors doomed to be used once, then linger for years at the back of the cabinet. Convinced there had to be a better way to stock a bar, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson and husband David Solmonson set out to cull the cocktail herd and home in on only the most essential ingredients for great drinking.”
– J.M. Hirsch, Associated Press

“Starting a home bar from scratch can be daunting and expensive… With the right selection, you can keep your stash simple and still be able to make just about every cocktail you could imagine.”
– Brooklynmagazine

“Make enough cocktails to last you a lifetime. Limited to only seven spirits, one liqueur, two vermouths and two styles of bitters, you will indeed have a collection that in many ways will exceed most typical bars around the country.”
– Good Spirits News

“Here’s to smart barkeeping: Make hundreds of cocktails from a mere dozen bottles.”
– Cooking Light

“A great home bar is an abridged one… The 12 Bottle Bar offers tips on stocking enough liquor to keep your cocktail list large but your investment small.”
– Los Angeles magazine

“An innovative idea.”
–Town & Country

“Covers the bases of modern cocktail making thoroughly.”
– Kindred Cocktails

“Maximum cocktail potential from just a few bottles.”
– Liquor.com

“The perfect precursor to a establishing a successful home or café beverage program.”
– Fresh Cup

“How many cocktails could you make using just 12 bottles without sacrificing flavor, technique, or creativity? The answer: enough to give your local molecular mixologist a run for his money.”
– Publishers Weekly

AP