An excellent book for those of us that are staying home but still want to experiment with those exotic cocktails everyone else is talking about. Clear instructions from an expert that guarantee results that will have you trying the next recipe and the next one and the next one. Loved it!

This is a fantastic array of delicious cocktails. There is truly something for everyone in this book. I look forward to pulling it out about once a month to try something new especially at the end of a tough week of work.

The cover of this book is beautiful. However, it was too difficult to read in digital format and needs to be perused with a hard copy of the book.

I received a free advanced copy for an honest review. My husband and I loved this book. It was fun and exciting to have easy to follow recipes for trying out new drinks. The author Molly Wellman did an excellent job in providing recipes for everyone. Great book! Thank you for allowing me to review this book.

I really liked being able to have a comprehensive accounting of many cocktails I think are hard to find. these days when I don't manage to get out to restaurants I like to make myself fancy cocktails at home which makes me feel more like an adult. Being at home with two kids all the time it's sometimes the only time I ever feel like an adult. The book was easy to follow although had some odd ingredients... For the most part it was a totally relatable cocktail book that looks good on a coffee table as well

First, I have to clarify, I very rarely drink and, when I do, I have a or two glass of Moscato - never a cocktail.  So, why, you might ask, did I read this book?  To be perfectly honest, I read this book because I never get the mixed drinks trivia questions right and I wanted to read a bit on the topic.  That said, I really, really enjoyed it.

This book includes a list of the standard bartender tools, as well as a nice explanation of how each one is used.  Who knew why a bartender's spoon has such a long twisty handle?  Did you ever wonder which glass goes with which type of drink?  The author also includes detailed recipes for over 100 cocktails - including some that she developed herself.  Recipes for all of the different simple syrups and bitters needed for these cocktails are included as well.

What I really enjoyed about this book was the background and history that the author included with many of the cocktail recipes.  What is the difference between rye whisky, Scotch whisky and bourbon?  Is sherry just another type of wine?  Did you know that bitters were not always just an ingredient in a cocktail?  How did the mint julep become the official drink of the Kentucky Derby?  What in the world is a Fig Jig, a Sherry Cobbler and a Chill Out Barbra?  Who knew that the "sling" in Singapore Sling is actually a type of drink?  Just what are a "sling", a "flip", a "fizz", a "julep" and a "cobbler"? What is the difference between a martini that has been shaken and one that has been stirred?

This book was a great find and I thoroughly enjoyed my tour through the world of cocktails.

(NetGalley ebook -  I received a complimentary advanced reader copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

It doesn't matter how much I think my cocktail cupboard is coming along, there always seems to be one ingredient I don't have for any recipe I think sounds appealing. All the more so in this book, where something that bit different again is the order of the day. If that's what you're after, then this is quite possibly the book for you. If it's not - well, then, there are more than plenty of less intriguing cocktail recipe books out there.

I did like the little snippets of history along with the recipes. I also liked the 'how to make your own syrups' section, that goes from ginger to blueberry to jalapeno and more! Although sometimes the recipes do seem overcomplicated: a Moscow Mule can be done with ginger ale rather than ginger syrup and soda, surely? Or, I'm just not classy enough ;)

I would have liked the more classic split by alcohol types, rather than 'time of day to drink' (urm...?!). And, to be honest, while the unusual was fun to read about, many are just a bit too out there for me to rush out and buy some rather obscure ingredients. I learned a bit along the way, I suppose.

Overall: great if you're bored of mojitos and cosmopolitans, and want something with a little more prohibition-style glamour.

Handcrafted Cocktails from Molly Wellmann is a mixologist's guide for the home that entertains regularly or for the establishment looking to improve the customer's experience. It is less for the person who just wants to pick up a couple things at the grocery store and think they will have the ingredients for a wide range of authentic drinks.

Probably the main thing that separates this book from many others for me is the section on making your own simple syrups and bitters. Since my interest is for at home use, I will likely try several and settle on one or two that cover the drinks I am most interested in. For a party, however, I might mix some extra types so I can offer something new to my friends.

The book is also a fun read as well as a collection of recipes. Though most of the drinks don't include a story many do and it helps to make this something more than just a drink guide.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who either is a professional wanting to up their game or is a social drinker who enjoys serving new drinks for friends on occasion. Or, like me, someone who just likes the idea of making new drinks from scratch (sorta).

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

I received this in exchange for an honest review from netgalley.

This cocktail book is short, smart, and uncomplicated. I like the discussion of history of some drinks, the instructions on how to make some of the components, and the simplicity of the drinks. I don’t drink quantities, but I do hate waiting for them. These are drinks that could be batched for parties or just made for yourself, and that’s incredibly handy when you don’t have 20 minutes for one drink, or the patience. I wish there were more recipes, but overall this is a good book to have on hand.

Handcrafted Cocktails is perfect for those that enjoy a special drink any time of the day: morning, afternoon, happy hour, dinner, or after dinner.
With this guide in hand, the author makes it easy to recreate those cocktails in the comfort of your home. Additionally, she also describes the history behind certain drinks such as the Manhattan and the Moscow Mule. Overall, this is a great resource to enjoy many times over.

I really enjoyed this book. Not only did it have great recipes but history of liquors and it had basic recipes on how to make syrups, bitter. etc. Will be trying some of these recipes soon. I also loved the pictures of the drinks

This is a great introduction to making your own cocktails! There are lots of great straightforward recipes from the more widely known to the more specialized cocktails. The photography is mouthwatering and I believe there is a picture for almost every recipe. One of the reasons I really love the book is the history provided about each drink. It's really interesting to learn how the drinks were created and by whom, as well as how long they have been around. I also really like that when a cocktail contains a flavored simple syrup, the recipe for making the syrup is also provided. What a wonderful book for impressing your friends at your next party by playing bartender or just having fun making and enjoying for yourself! It would also make a great gift!

Handcrafted Cocktails was an enjoyable book. Not only is it full of good basic information, it is interspersed with pictures, recipes, the history or origin of recipes and other facts. This would be a wonderful addition to any household bar. Another plus is that the exterior of the book is appealing as well.

This would be a good gift for someone who enjoys tinkering with drink recipes, someone moving into a new home or a newlywed. I was pleasantly surprised by the "pretty factor" that this book emanated.

I received a copy of this e-book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great book! I love how they start you off with the cocktail’s history and how it came about before leading you into the recipe! There are several I haven’t heard of, but will be trying soon! I recommend this book to anyone looking to try something new or someone who would also love to have some classics on hand.

This is a great book on cocktails. It covers a lot of territory and starts from the very basics. The background and personal stories are interesting and fun, however, they sometimes seem to be a bit incomplete - like I'm waiting for the punchline I never get. If you're looking for a good comprehensive book on cocktails that includes basic instruction, classics and some interesting new takes, this is a good book to crack.

This book turned out to be a bit different from what I expected it to be, and that's both a good and a bad thing. In one way, I didn't feel after reading it like I could actually make these cocktails - though that might not be the book's complexity (it's written in a very, maybe even too simple style) or my lack of skills, but the fact that most cocktails recommend some ingredients I've never ever seen on the shelves of the stores here. I'd say it's written more for actual bartenders/professionals than the lay(wo)men, and I felt a bit disappointed because of this. Otherwise, this was the perfect book to read if one wants to know a bit more about the history of drinking cocktails. There were a lot of background stories which I'd never even heard about, never thought about, but were quite interested. It was light, didn't want to be more than it is, yet it gave valuable and interesting information. The author's enthusiasm and professionalism came through the pages.

I recommend this book, but only if you are interested in fun facts about cocktails, or if you're a beginner bartender, and not really if you want to learn how to create these alcoholic wonders in your home.

Perfectly rounded cocktail guide. It starts with the basics and recipes for syrups before breaking down the drinks into the time of day they should be served and their primary alcohol base.

There are occasions when I enjoy a cocktail, particularly in the evening whilst on holiday. Fortunately, there is always a bar tender close by who can mix the appropriate tipple as required. Picking up this book by Molly Wellman, who is no stranger to the art of Mixology has given me a well laid out handbook on how to make my own cocktails. The book is well presented and provides an easy to follow guide on many classic cocktails. What I also enjoyed reading was not only how to make my favourite tipples but some of the history associated with this craft. Overall, an excellent read with clear instructions for all to understand. Cheers!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.