By Maria Vint
What better way to start this book review series than with a quick, funny, and easy read that teaches you how to Drink like a Bartender. We’ll all get our feet wet together, as we dive into this fun, foundational piece that is small, but mighty – packed with facts, humor, recipes, and everything you’ll need to know to feel confident ordering a drink at a bar like a pro.
Overview
Drink like a Bartender by Thea Engst and Lauren Vingdor takes the reader behind the bar, providing a glimpse of the bartender’s experience, but also breaks down the complicated and sometimes obscure concepts behind wine, beer, and spirits. They review each in detail, providing everything you need to know to be able to order with confidence, but also more in-depth facts so that you gain an understanding of what you’re ordering. All of this is achieved in a relaxed, easy tone with sarcastic wit.
Main Takeaways
I absolutely recommend this book. It’s just such a super easy and enjoyable read. Informative but funny, and for that reason it’s a breeze to get through. Even though there’s a lot of info, you won’t get bored. Instead, it feels like you’re sitting across the table from the authors, enjoying a drink while they tell you all you need to know. So, pick up your own copy, pour yourself a drink, and enjoy!
Who is this book for?
- Cocktail, wine, and beer enthusiasts that sometimes don’t feel confident when ordering from a bar.
- New drinkers.
- Seasoned drinkers who are interested to know more.
- People who don’t normally order from the bar.
- People who normally do, but sometimes aren’t sure what to order.
- And, really, anyone in between.
As a mixologist myself, I learned a lot. As they emphasize – there’s so much one could possibly know that you likely will learn something new. I, for example, haven’t worked with many craft beers. Thus, the very detailed section on the different types of beers was informative for me. I’m sure you will also gain some good takeaways from this book.
More Detail
From the cover, these are some of the “secrets from the other side of the bar” you’ll receive:
- When to order top shelf and when to pass
- Which liquors you should have in your home bar
- When to shake and when to stir
- How to order like a pro
- Which drinks will make a bartender judge you
Content
The book is broken down into The Basics (all you need to know about alcohol), How to Order (“dos and don’ts” of ordering at a bar, plus the expected terminology to use), How to Mix (how to make your own drinks, along with recipes), and The Hard Truth (what you do NOT want to do at a bar).
Most sections have Pro Tips (their advice), Bar Banter (interesting fun facts), Bar Lingo (mini glossaries), Bartender Says (snippets of interview responses from seasoned bartenders), Rookie Mistakes (things to avoid doing or debunking of largely held beliefs), and some pretty great diagrams for all those visual learners.
Here’s an example about their humor taking the work out of reading it. One of my favorite sections is the author’s descriptions of the different camps of beer – compared to how they like their men: delicate, bitter, complex and moody, etc. The details of the beers found beneath each descriptor is thorough and informative, as is the rest of the book. And, again, that’s what’s so great about it – it’s entertaining, easy to read, and jam packed with interesting facts.
Aesthetic
In terms of the aesthetic of the book, there’s a sort of mid-century modern flare to it. Colors throughout are orange-red and black. There are hand-drawn diagrams of drinking glasses and of maps detailing the geography of a spirit. There are also flow charts, like the one on pages 112 – 113 helping you figure out what to order based on your craving of either refreshing, smoky, fruity, or strong.
The content is accessible and easy to digest partly because of the utilization of the space on the pages. The book is small, about 5.5″ x 7.75″, and on each page, there’s often all the content about a topic. In other words, the discussion of Tequila doesn’t flow on and on for 20 pages. It’s all condensed into the need-to-know facts that fit on one page.
Final word
Again, Drink like a Bartender is informative, funny, and easy to read – full of useful information but does not feel stuffy. It’s the type of book you would likely pick up and use again as a resource. Definitely recommend!
About the Authors
Thea Engst is an author, food and beverage consultant, and content developer with over a decade of experience in the restaurant industry. Some of her other publications include Spirit of the Tarot and Nectar of the Gods. (Both are soon to be reviewed, here!)
Lauren Vigdor is a seasoned mixologist, with experience managing the craft coktail bar, River Bar. Most recently, she became the Beverage Director for multiple locations and has a passion for retelling the histories of spirits, wines, and mixed drinks.
Awesome review! I cant wait to get my hands on this book. Thanks!
Yay! thank you! It’s really so much fun. I hope you love it 🙂
This is our go to Book for cocktails mixed with humor. Plus, it makes a great gift. Love this one!