Skip to main content

The New Must-Have Cocktail Book: Spirit, Mixer, Glass & Garnish

Think for a second. Do you know someone who, when you go to their house, they usually offer you a cocktail and when you ask them what’s in it they laugh and say, “Just drink it?”

You probably do. If you don’t, you probably are that person. If you or someone you know is that person, then do we have a treat for you. Coming this winter, a new cocktail book and journal Spirit, Mixer, Glass & Garnish may be your new best friend.

Recommended Videos

Created by Ben Putano and Brett Vance of Cocktail Gear, this 5×7-inch book will be both the bartender’s and home mixologist’s go-to drinking notebook.

“I tried to focus on the needs of cocktail enthusiasts and high-end bartenders. These people are really passionate about cocktails and attend events like Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans every year. A lot of them follow the Reddit /r/cocktails subreddit. In fact, the first big break this project had was from a post I made on the thread last week. There’s a lot of iterating and experimenting when creating a cocktail, but I think Spirit, Mixer, Glass & Garnish is a great place to record finished recipes and store them on your home bar,” Putano says of the project.

Putano hopes that not only will the book provide ample space for those that are already crafting cocktails at home, but it’ll give others a chance to experiment some more as well.

“Making great cocktails at home is way easier than most people think, and I think Spirit, Mixer, Glass & Garnish will make cocktails feel more accessible to new enthusiasts,” he adds.

On the bartender side, Putano says, the book is meant to be a fitting repository to store the cocktails that are time and time again, beautiful works of art in and of themselves.

14689803_10206728900851498_1371090417_o-1
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“There were a lot of bartenders who have been using index cards, rolodexes, and plain notebooks for keeping recipes, and they’ve been waiting for something like this. Maybe we’ll see some new cocktail recipe books published out of the work people do in the journal.”

At 150 pages, Spirit, Mixer, Glass & Garnish offers plenty of space for cocktail recipes as well as recipes for shrubs, infusions, bitters, and more. The book is divided into sections based on spirit, and each recipe template will include space for the cocktail name, date, creator, ingredients, garnish, method, and additional notes. Better yet, the book cover is water resistant (read: when you get drunk and spill the drink you’re trying to make, it won’t mess the book up).

One copy of Spirit, Mixer, Glass & Garnish will run you around $27 (early birds are $24, but are as of this writing they are nearly gone). You have until November 15 to pledge to the Kickstarter campaign. US deliveries are expected the week of December 11 (international deliveries are expected the following week).

Sam Slaughter
Sam Slaughter was the Food and Drink Editor for The Manual. Born and raised in New Jersey, he’s called the South home for…
Bottomless portafilter vs. regular: Which one makes better espresso?
What makes each portafilter different?
espresso filter

One thing I love about brewing espresso is that it can be adjusted and adapted for any skill level. Whether you're a coffee nerd or a barista who wants to perfect every part of the brewing process, you can brew espresso. Regardless of your skill level, you need to learn about one of the most critical components of an espresso maker: the portafilter. You can't brew espresso without it -- unless you're using a capsule-style system like a Nespresso Veruto.

There are two types of portafilters that you can use with your espresso maker, yet neither is better than the other. Both the bottomless portafilter and a regular, spouted portafilter do the trick to brew delicious espresso. With this in mind, the winner of the bottomless portafilter vs. regular debate comes down to your preferences and how deeply invested you are in the art of brewing espresso. Here's what to know about each type of espresso filter.
Bottomless portafilter vs. regular

Read more
This is how to make beef tips worthy of the Kentucky Derby
Chef Robert Lopez spills the tea on how to make slow-cooked beef tips
Horses racing in the Kentucky Derby

When it comes to the Kentucky Derby, the spectacle isn’t just on the racetrack. The annual event is synonymous with Southern tradition, elegance, and indulgence, which makes it the perfect backdrop for a curated, high-end dining experience. Chef Robert Lopez, Senior Executive Chef at Levy Restaurants and Head Chef at Churchill Downs, has crafted a Derby-inspired menu that blends tradition with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients to capture the essence of this legendary horse racing event.

Lopez is known for his attention to detail and deep respect for classic Southern flavors, and he has carefully and thoughtfully selected dishes like the Bluegrass Fields Salad and drinks like the mint julep that evoke both comfort and refinement. You’re in for a treat, as we had the pleasure of speaking with the chef and picking his brain on how he selected these recipes for this year's menu. One of the most popular dishes that he has on there are the slow-cooked beef tips, and we were eager to learn not only how to make beef tips, but also how to do them the Kentucky Derby way.

Read more
Crown Royal is releasing the perfect whisky for an epic night out
Crown Royal Marquis is the newest release from the iconic whisky brand
Crown Royal

Crown Royal is the first name most drinkers envision when they think about Canadian whisky, and for good reason. You can't go wrong with its classic Crown Royal in the iconic purple bag or any of its flavored whiskies or limited-edition expressions. But, if you really want to up your blended Canadian whisky game, you'll purchase a bottle of its recently announced Crown Royal Marquis Blended Canadian Whisky.
Crown Royal Marquis Blended Canadian Whisky
The Crown Royal Marquis Moment featuring Crown Royal Marquis Blended Canadian Whisky. Crown Royal

Crown Royal Marquis Blended Canadian Whisky is the latest innovative release in the brand's award-winning whisky portfolio. Created to be the drink you enjoy before (and during) an epic night, it begins with Crown Royal's signature blended whisky. It's then finished in barrels that previously held Caribbean rum. The result is an 80-proof sipping and mixing whisky you'll want to add to your home bar.

Read more