Liquid Intelligence

Once you’ve mastered the basics, some folks get really into the science of cocktails. If that’s of interest to you, the venerable Dave Arnold has the book for you.

This book gets at the “why” behind cocktail technique, delving deep into matters of acidity, carbonation, temperature, and more; it’s an incredible resource for true cocktail nerds. Even if you’re not likely to pull out the liquid nitrogen or quinine powder on your own, this book is an engaging and fascinating read.  

This is another must-have book for cocktail enthusiasts and experienced bartenders alike. Dave is the “mad scientist” of the cocktail world. From conducting experiments on the best forms of clarification to ridding himself of a cherry allergy.

Dave analyses every aspect of making drinks from the ice to the levels of acids and sugars in certain ingredients. He has done rigorous testing so you don’t have to and explains everything to the nth detail. There are also great explanations of advanced techniques such as carbonation and clarification to take your drinks making skills to the very top.