James Beard Award Winning Bar Books For The Past 10 Years
The Ultimate Book Wishlist For Bartenders
~2018~
Award in "Reference, History, & Scholarship"
Champagne
The Essential Guide to the Wines, Producers, and Terroirs of the Iconic Region.
by Peter Liem with Kate Leahy
Photographs By Gentl and Hyers
*This deluxe box set, comes complete with seven detailed maps of vintage vineyards. Makes an excellent gift!
Award in "Beverage" Book Category
Meehan's Bartending Manual
Jim Meehan
*If you take bartending seriously get this book. Owner of PDT and author of The PDT Cocktail Book: Jim Meehan, brings you a bartending manual that's sure to become an industry staple.
~2017~
Award in "Beverage" Book Category
Smuggler's Cove
Exotic Cocktails, Rum, and the Cult of Tiki
Martin & Rebecca Cate
*Delve into the exotic world of tiki with "Smuggler's Cove" brought to you by the owners of the critically acclaimed tiki bar in San Francisco.
~2016~
Award in "Writing and Literature"
Soda Politics
Taking on Big Soda (and Winning)
Marion Nestle
*Fascinating read for people with an interest in the commercial beverage industry. Available for free on audible!
Award in "Beverage" Book Category
The Oxford Companion to Wine
Julia Harding
*No longer feel like a noob at the tasting table. Explore the science, culture, and history of wine in this 4th edition, updated with new statistics and facts.
~2015~
Award in "Beverage" Book Category
Liquid Intelligence
The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail
Dave Arnold
*This is the difference between a mixologist and bartender. Dave Arnold approaches bartending as a science experiment to produce the best tasting cocktails possible.
~2014~
Award in "Beverage" Book Category
The Cocktail Lab
Unraveling the Mysteries of Flavor and Aroma in Drink, with Recipes
Tony Conigliaro
*This is an excellent resource for bartenders trying to come up with original cocktails. See the creative recipes designed by Tony Conigliaro and use them as inspiration to approach your recipe design with the same level of thought and imagination.
~2013~
Award in "Reference and Scholarship"
The Art of Fermentation
An In-Depth Exploration of Essential Concepts and Processes from Around the World
Sandor Ellix Katz
*DIY at home guide for all things fermented, from beer to sauerkraut. Available for FREE on audible.
Award in "Beverage" Book Category
Wine Grapes
A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavours
Julia Harding
*Explore flavor profiles and terroir with Master Somm, Julia Harding, in this beautifully illustrated mammoth of a book, "Wine Grapes".
~2012~
Award in "Beverage" Book Category
Bitters
A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All, with Cocktails, Recipes & Formulas
Brad Thomas Parsons
*Experimenting with these bitters recipes is ridiculously fun for bar nerds. Try a few from the book and then use their recipes as a guideline for your own.
~2011~
Award in "Beverage" Book Category
Secrets of the Sommeliers
How to Think and Drink Like the Word's Top Wine Professionals
Rajat Parr
* This book is about Sommeliers as much as it is about wine. Learn tips and tricks from top leaders in the industry on tasting notes and food pairings. My favorite nuggets of wisdom from this book are methods to acquire hard-to-find bottles at a reasonable price point.
~2010~
Award in "Beverage" Book Category
Been Doon So Long
A Randall Grahm Vinthology
Randall Grahm
*Be entertained by the wit of California Winemaker, Randal Graham, as you learn about lesser known varietals.
~2009~
Award in "Beverage" Book Category
WineWise
Your Complete Guide to Understanding, Selecting, and Enjoying Wine
Brian Smith
*Educators from The Culinary Institute of America bring you this practical guide to wine, food pairings, labels, and more in this updated edition.
Award in "Reference & Scholarship"
The Flavor Bible
The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America's Most Imaginative Chefs
Andrew Dornenburg
*A gastronomic staple every bartender should keep in their arsenal for recipe development and flavor pairing. Also available in a vegetarian edition.
~2008~
Award in "Wine & Spirits Book Category
Imbibe!
From Absinthe Cocktail to Whiskey Smash, a Salute in Stories and Drinks to "Professor" Jerry Thomas, Pioneer of the American Bar
David Wondrich
*History buff heaven, as always with David Wondrich. Available for FREE on audible! You can also sync your Kindle book with audio and switch back and forth between the two. I recommend listening to audio for commentary and switching to regular reading for recipes, it's an excellent time saver!