Join America’s Test Kitchen and Cook’s Illustrated to unleash your inner bartender with a demystifying dive into the world of classic and contemporary cocktail making. Organized around categories including martinis, Manhattans, highballs, sours, flips, tropical, and more, “Cocktails Illustrated” is the ultimate “how-to” cocktail cookbook. Here & Now managing producer and cocktail aficionado Todd Mundt sat down with Dan Souza, chief content officer of America’s Test Kitchen, and test cook Joe Gitter in a conversation expanding your cocktails repertoire.
This event was co-produced by Boston University Metropolitan College Programs in Food & Wine.
About “Cocktails Illustrated"
Take a master class in bartending with this luxe cocktail cookbook featuring 400+ recipes covering 15 essential categories! Cook’s Illustrated experts share all the hallmark techniques, formulas, science and lore behind your favorite spirited and nonalcoholic libations.
Unleash your inner bartender with a demystifying dive into the world of classic and contemporary cocktail making. “Cocktails Illustrated” is that rare book: coffee-table gorgeous with hundreds of photographs and illustrations; comprehensive, instructive and practical; and as fun and playful as a great cocktail should be. Organized around categories including martinis, Manhattans, highballs, sours, flips, tropical and more, it’s the ultimate “how-to” cocktail cookbook.
- Shake up your repertoire: Hundreds of creative kitchen-tested cocktails (and a few of our favorite bar snacks) and ways to customize them based on your preferences, from spirit-forward drinks to zero-proof cocktails.
- Distill professional secrets: Techniques, including aging and clarifying cocktails and fat-washing spirits, are made accessible through clear, engaging explanations and how-to photography.
- Sip on some science: Learn from the Cook’s Illustrated experts, including why glassware shape matters, the chemistry of proper cocktail dilution, and when and how to use ingredients like tinctures or flamed citrus to enhance flavors.
- Belly up to the bar: Extensive introduction pours out no-nonsense advice on what bottles, tools and glassware you really need, plus clearly teaches methods including shaking, swizzling, muddling, citrus juicing, ice making and more.
- Peruse the backbar: Bonus section elevates cocktails with homemade infused liqueurs, bitters and tinctures, syrups and shrubs, rim salts and sugars and garnishes.
No matter your skill or knowledge level, this beautiful deep dive into cocktails from Cook's Illustrated and America's Test Kitchen is your new go-to guide.