My Top Three Cocktail Books for 2008

I\’m adding to my own personal wishlist for this year, and started going through some of the latest cocktail books on the market this year. There\’s a few that have caught my eye recently, including:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nArtisanal Cocktails by Scott Beattie\r\n\r\nThis looks like it\’s right up my alley, especially with the crafting and playing in the \”lab\” Simon and I keep talking about.  Something to play with, something to create. Recipes that will impress foodie friends and cocktail nerds alike.\r\n\r\nI generally take a look at a recipe like this and start to think about how the flavours will meld and then start taking off on my own tangents.  May as well play! \r\n\r\nMarket-Fresh Mixology by Bridget Albert \r\n\r\nOhhh, here\’s another one. Imagine going to a Farmer\’s Market, finding some fresh ingredients and just…. whipping up something delightful. I know that the mixologist boys I know can just do. These boys know their flavours and their balances…. I want to learn how to do that. I know I have a good palat – heck, you know that Top Chef palate challenge? I can do that. I should be able to balance my drink flavours too. This book should help, I think.\r\n\r\n101 Champagne Cocktails by Kim Haasarud\r\n\r\nNothing says \”celebration\” like the sound of champagne corks popping, and cocktails made with sparkling wine are the perfect libations at festive occasions. They\’re crisp, fresh, fizzy, and delicious. What could be better when you\’re celebrating a wedding, a birthday, the beginning of a new year, or just the end of a long week?\r\n\r\nThis great little book offers 101 ways to make champagne cocktails, and at that point, when you\’ve gotten that far, you\’ll be able to branch out on your own and start creating!\r\n\r\n(all images courtesy the publishers)