I'm going to be honest, I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway. I went into this book thinking it was going to be very dry. Ruhlman did an amazing job providing recipes with interesting history, and personal stories.

I am an admitted amateur in the realm of cocktails. This book holds true to its title, keeping every recipe simple, reducing them down to their original ratios. From there, Ruhlman gives variations on every drink, giving popular opinions, as well as his own on each recipe. This book has actually helped me understand the reasoning and history behind every concoction. I am currently working my way through the different Manhattan recipes to see what I personally enjoy.

If you are not familiar with the cocktail world like myself, I would highly recommend this book. If you are familiar, I would still recommend it. ( )