Review of Maran Illustrated Bartending (Paperback)

I was never a terribly big fan of alcohol, so when I was introduced to such strong and bland drinks as the Vodka Tonic, it did little to persuade me.

Then, I had the Midori Sour, which hardly had any alcoholic taste to it. Of course, for those who know the Midori Sour, it's stigmatized as a "chick drink" or something females prefer. This is because the Midori Sour is not a heavy drink and contains a small amount of liquer.

But the idea of getting annihilated or intoxicated for the so-called "buzz" and acting foolish, did not impress me. If I was to drink alcohol, I was gonna drink it for the flavor.

I had plenty of other cocktails, besides the Midori Sour, but I just couldn't find anything else that rivaled its simple, yet flavorful combination. I thought, "Surely, there must be more alcoholic drinks out there, that actually taste similarly delightful."

Unfortunately, learning about cocktails can get easily frustrating, because there are few resources that present a solid introduction of it. Most of the books I checked out, would refer to one of millions of different liquors (vodka, bourbon, whiskey, rum, cachaca, etc) as ingredients, without explaining the differences, and popular choices of brands. All of this is nothing short of overwhelming to beginners, who are looking to mix something sophisticated and beyond stuff served in plastic red cups.

One of the reasons why I refuse to purchase cookbooks, is due to the endless array of ingredients I've never heard of. These cookbooks don't tell you where to purchase them, or what brands they personally used, etc, etc.

On the contrary, this book on bartending, executes a magnificent job of introducing you to the art of cocktails. It provides simple instructions, step by step, and it also educates you about all the techniques employed in this book, such as the creation of various garnishes, muddling fruits, layering effects, making simple syrup, etc. There's even a glossary of all the liquors and ingredients listed in this book. And best of all, everything is accompanied with pictures!

I've yet to come across another bartending book that is this complete. Most books fail to provide any pictures, leaving your imagination to wonder the result, and whether you made it properly and what not. Furthermore, the lack of visuals offer little to no incentive for you to make the cocktail.

Trust me when I tell you that this book will save you loads of time and confusion that I endured when I first got into mixing drinks. This is a fantastic book, and I recommend it to everybody seeking to upgrade their bartending skills.

Having said all that, I'm not saying this is the be all, end all bartending bible. But it's as close as you can get to it, relative to other books in current times. I'm absolutely surprised at how useless and unfriendly 99% of the bartending resources are, right now. Heck, I wish a publisher came and offered me a chance to make a bartending book, because I'd explain everything I had trouble understanding, as an eager-eyed novice, myself. But until then, this is the book you wanna get.

Sidebar: It even teaches you how to make an authentic Cosmopolitan, as opposed to the processed, pre-made stuff they have at stores, or the ones in most bars that blasphemously substitute fresh lime with Rose's Lime. :(

Some of my favorite drinks in this book were...

- Strawberry Caipirinha
- Bourbon Smash
- Melon Mojito
- Melon Daiquiri
- Rum Runner
- Rugburn
- Blue Cosmo
- Banana Colada

Good luck, and I hope this helps!

Product Description
Maran Illustrated Bartending is a valuable contemporary resource to a wide range of readers-from those who want to entertain a few guests at an impromptu party to those who wish to be the consummate host at their next big event. Full-color photographs and clear, step-by-step instructions walk you through each stage of the bartending process from beginning to end. Thorough topic introductions and useful tips provide additional information and advice to help enhance the your bartending experience. This colorful, easy-to-use and informative resource will allow you to learn the ins and outs of bartending comfortably at your own pace. Maran Illustrated Bartending is packed with essential information for people who are bartending for the first time and will provide more experienced readers with a refresher course on the basics and the opportunity to expand their bartending skills. Maran Illustrated Bartending will cost less than a bottle of spirits, and will be a permanent resource that will provide years of enjoyment.

About the Author
maranGraphics Development Group combines the efforts of many talented people. An industry expert in the field of each book and Maran's own writers work together to produce books that are highly visual, technically sound, easy for readers to understand, and adhere to maranGraphics' standards of structuring to provide the best learning experience.

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