Post #279997 by tikibars on Sun, Jan 21, 2007 1:29 AM

Esquire's Handbook for Hosts.
New Enlarged Edition, 1953.
Mandatory.
Commonly seen used for $2 to $12.

Savoy Cocktail Book, 1930.
Reprinted several times, I have (and like) the 1983 edition, which looks deco-era-meets-1980s. Great trove of classic recipes.

Tropical Bar Book Drinks and Stories, Charles Schumann.
Bartender at the astounding Pegu Club in Manhattan got me hep to this one. Although the design is a little bit "Buffet in the pastel 1980s", I like this book because it goes into all of the different mixers and ingredients and discusses how they're all made and which ones compliment each other.

I also have to go with Ted Haigh's Vintage Spirits & Forgotten Cocktails.

And of course, Jeff Berry's books, and any of the handful of Trader Vic's books.

Finally, I hate to disagree with Pirate's very first posting here (welcome, BTW!), but I don't like Adam Rocke's books at all. Of course I adore Shag's contributions, but I think Rocke's books are poorly researched and his recipes are typically pretty awful.