I was excited to get a review copy of The Classic Craft Cocktail Recipe Book from one of my boozy friends, Clair McLafferty. Her story of transitioning from corporate life to bartending to boozy writing prepared her for this publication.

Did Clair know she was ready to write her own book? It had been a long time passion to become published. When Callisto Media reached out to her to see if she wanted to help them make a cocktail book she hardly hesitated in answering yes.

This publisher wants to make sure there is demand for a product they put into the market. This particular company does research via search terms to gauge the success of a publication. Classic Craft Cocktail and/or a variation of the words is searched enough on the web to merit a book. Clair was selected because of her background in writing and bartending.

When do you know you are ready to write your own book? Clair provided these 6 tests:

• Are you writing every day?
• Have you ever enlisted the skills of a trained editor to review your work?
• Do you fact check your work?
• Have you freelanced for enough time to “get it”?
• Do you keep putting of researching your own book deal?
• Can you write fast?

These tests helped determine that Clair was ready and she took the plunge. The result was this book.

While the title says it is a recipe book, around a 1/3 of it is history, reference, skills and tricks to make great cocktails. This takes away from the monotony of a straight reference text and gives background on the particular spirit or recipe. Many books have been written on classic cocktails but this one stands out. Here are some of the pros and cons.

Pros:

• Compact size/soft cover/easy for travel
• Modern design and art
• Straight forward recipes
• Easy to understand techniques/not written for a bartender
• Deeper dive into glassware and liqueurs than similar books
• Budget friendly at under $12.

Cons

• Soft cover which might lead to wear and tear
• No original cocktails.
• May be duplicate to some of the books you already have
• Doesn’t lay flat on the counter.

Overall, I’m a fan of the book. This would make a great addition to a gift basket because it is small and very colorful. Partner this up with some glasses, bitters and maybe a bottle of spirits for an amazing house warming gift. At $12 you won’t break the bank and will have all if the classic cocktails at your finger tips. I say buy this for yourself or a friend.

Budmo!