Making great cocktails just got easier! Finally, home and professional bartenders have a manual that is truly essential! One of the founders of The Museum of the American Cocktail, Robert Hess distills a lifetime of passionate interest in classical mixology to peel away the mysteries of making perfect cocktails. For years he has worked with restaurants, bartenders and consumers to help raise their craft to art. Envisioning the cocktail as a cuisine made with equal artistry, craftsmanship and flavor potential as food prepared by any gourmet chef, he sees this artistry as being within the grasp of all. In clear, concise prose The Essential Bartender's Guide presents everything you'll need to know to open a world of infinite taste possibilities. Topics include bartending basics, stocking a bar and understanding drink construction. There are recipes and discussions of classic cocktails such as the Sidecar, Daiquiri, Margarita, Cosmopolitan, Old Fashioned, Martini, Manhattan, Bloody Mary and Mai Tai as well as a personal collection of several hundred recipes representing the best cocktails and mixed drinks.