🚧 note. this page is very out of date I'm going to re-do it at some point 🚧
Resources I recommend
Favourite Video Creators
Steve the Bartender
Steve has a gargantuan number of recipes both on his youtube channel and on his website. He seems to have been doing this for a long time so is very experienced, but at the same time never makes things overly complicated. His recipes are very easy to follow and almost always use accessible ingredients or atleast mention viable substitions. Definitely recommended for all abilities.
Bonneville Cocktails
This was the channel that got me interested in making cocktails in the first place. Ruairi's youtube channel has many top five videos aswell as cocktail showcase videos. The channel is edited well and is very appealing, demonstrating how cocktail making can be done with flair. Though the recipes often use uncommon or expensive ingredients, they are always very impressive and punchy.
Vlad the Slick Bartender
- Entertaining to watch the awesome tricks and performances, even if I can't do any of them myself.Educated Barfly
- Unusual and intriguing recipes. Lot's of historical context on each cocktail.Cocktail Chemistry
- Lots of reinvented recipes and interested techniques.How To Drink
- I think the host is obnoxious but hes here because the channel has a lot of original cocktails based off of different media.Tipsy Bartender
- Brilliant party recipes as well as short and sweet videos.
Other Recommendations
Favourite Websites
Difford's Guide
Started by Simon Difford in 2001, this website has become massive and is packed with unique recipes and reviews on different cocktails and spirits. The recipes are packed with extra information like a scale on how sweet/sour they are and how boozy they are, as just one example. The site makes it very easy to find new recipes with lists like it's "World's top 100 cocktails" and with features like advanced search. With this, you can find a cocktail of anything imaginable. The site also has other features, like a page on people & personalities, a page with different bars and even an in-built online shop.
BBC Good Food
BBC Good Food has some recipes that are solid for beginners. Most of the recipes on the website are very famous and are very easy to recreate. This website is good for anyone starting out who wants a reliable list of simple recipes.
stevethebartender.com
- I'm kind of cheating because I already put this in the video category, but he has a fully-fledged website as well.thedrinkblog.com
- What my website would end up like if I were to ever go pro. (ha)drinkstraightup.com
- Great collection of recipes and guides on bartending techniques.
Other Recommendations
Favourite Books
Gin by Dan Jones
Part of the "Shake, Muddle, Stir" series, this book tells you everything you need to make gin cocktails. It has many popular and many unusual recipes, aswell as a guide on how to pick the perfect gin. The commentaries are insightful and the illustrations are helpful. I highly recommend this when starting out.
Vodka by Dan Jones
Like the previous book, except for vodka! Again there is loads of popular and interesting recipes.
Other recommendations
The Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock
- Authored by the famous bartender of the Savoy hotel, sure to provide insight to history.