Awards

• Short-listed for Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book category at the Spirited Awards 2022 (United States)

Overview

A tongue-in-cheek ""textbook"" that invites you to master mixology drink by drink. As a senior at Yale, Brian Hoefling realised that his classmates were about to enter the real world with an imperfect knowledge of how to order, prepare, and enjoy cocktails. To remedy this dangerous deficiency, he devised and taught The Cocktail Seminars. In his subsequent career as a cocktail teacher and writer, Hoefling has developed and refined The Cocktail Seminars into the present book. Each of the six seminars herein (from beginner to advanced) covers twenty-five different drinks, which are arranged so as to progressively introduce the ingredients of mixology, as well as its history and its core principles - souring, bittering, sweetening, aromatising, drying, lengthening, and mouthfeel. Problem sets and exams challenge readers to apply what they've learned to the creation of new and variant drinks. Those who are less serious about their cocktail education may also consult The Cocktail Seminars for drink recipes as needed, or display it as a handsome accessory on their bar cart - but they are only robbing themselves of a brighter future through the gift of education. The Cocktail Seminars is handsomely bound in vegan leather and furnished with all the charts and photographs one would expect from a proper textbook. It will make an excellent gift for all but teetotalers. AUTHOR: Brian Hoefling is the founder of the Herzog Cocktail School, which has been educating the public on cocktail history and preparation since 2012. He is the author of Distilled Knowledge: The Science Behind Drinking's Greatest Myths, Legends, and Unanswered Questions. SELLING POINTS: . A tongue-in-cheek ""textbook"" that offers a complete education in the history and practice of mixology, in five ""seminars"" covering thirty drinks each . It can also be consulted for reliable drink recipes as needed. . A supremely giftable volume, bound in vegan leather and equipped with the helpful charts and illustrations one would expect from a textbook The Cocktail Seminars grew out of a not-for-credit course that the author, Brian Hoefling, taught as a senior at Yale. . Hoefling, the founder of Boston's Herzog Cocktail School, has taught cocktail classes throughout the Northeast. He is also the author of Abbeville's Distilled Knowledge, about the science of drinking.

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9780789214003

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Reviews

The Cocktail Seminars is a valuable resource that breaks down cocktails into classifications as to why they work as opposed to merely a collection of recipes left for the reader to interpret. Brian is constantly drawing references to previous drinks in the book to compare, contrast, and build on the concepts. The interconnection between drinks crosses styles such that a 19th century classic, for example, will explain why a Tiki drink works so well. Moreover, as an advanced cocktailian, this book had me rethinking and fine-tuning my thoughts on drinks, so this is not just a beginner's course. Bravo! --Frederic Yarm, author of Drink & Tell: A Boston Cocktail Book and Boston Cocktails: Drunk & Told, and the Cocktail Virgin blog Hoefling's latest book is the culmination of a years-long pursuit ignited by his college classmates' plea to help them navigate the world of classic drinks. Navigate he does. His unique philosophy departs from the template approach to mixology, using simple diagrams to illustrate how the components and techniques of a particular cocktail transform the canvas of a base spirit into a painting. And Hoefling deftly weaves the vital history of the cocktail into each chapter. --Lauren Clark, author of Crafty Bastards: Beer in New England from the Mayflower to Modern Day A well-mixed cocktail is not simply a drink; it is a story in a glass. Which is why Brian D. Hoefling's textbook is a such pleasure to peruse. Hoefling has created a lively mixology history seminar as well as an instructional course; he stirs together legends, facts, and personal observations along with the techniques for making classic and overlooked cocktails - the Mint Julep, Ramos Gin Fizz, Sidecar, just to name a few. This is a master class in shake, stir, and spin for the home bartender. --Stephanie Schorow, author of Drinking Boston: A History of the City and its Spirits

Hoefling's latest book is the culmination of a years-long pursuit. . . His unique philosophy departs from the template approach to mixology, using simple diagrams to illustrate how the components and techniques of a particular cocktail transform the canvas of a base spirit into a painting. And Hoefling deftly weaves the vital history of the cocktail into each chapter.--Lauren Clark, author of Crafty Bastards: Beer in New England from the Mayflower to Modern Day A well-mixed cocktail is not simply a drink; it is a story in a glass. Which is why Brian D. Hoefling's textbook is a such pleasure to peruse. Hoefling has created a lively mixology history seminar as well as an instructional course; he stirs together legends, facts, and personal observations along with the techniques for making classic and overlooked cocktails. . . This is a master class in shake, stir, and spin for the home bartender.--Stephanie Schorow, author of Drinking Boston: A History of the City and its Spirits As someone who cobbled together their understanding of cocktail theory the hard way, I wish I'd had The Cocktail Seminars at the start of my journey. . . a highly engaging textbook and reference for cocktail geeks like me.--Matt Pietrek, author of Minimalist Tiki The Cocktail Seminars is a valuable resource that breaks down cocktails into classifications as to why they work as opposed to merely a collection of recipes left for the reader to interpret. Brian is constantly drawing references to previous drinks in the book to compare, contrast, and build on the concepts. The interconnection between drinks crosses styles such that a 19th century classic, for example, will explain why a Tiki drink works so well. Moreover, as an advanced cocktailian, this book had me rethinking and fine-tuning my thoughts on drinks, so this is not just a beginner's course. Bravo!--Frederic Yarm, author of Drink & Tell: A Boston Cocktail Book and Boston Cocktails: Drunk & Told, and the Cocktail Virgin blog One of the better drinks books published this year . . . The recipes are solid; the drink histories credible; the seminars deliver what they promise.--Eric Felten, One of Bevvy's Top Cocktail Books of 2021

A well-mixed cocktail is not simply a drink; it is a story in a glass. Which is why Brian D. Hoefling's textbook is a such pleasure to peruse. Hoefling has created a lively mixology history seminar as well as an instructional course; he stirs together legends, facts, and personal observations along with the techniques for making classic and overlooked cocktails. . . This is a master class in shake, stir, and spin for the home bartender.--Stephanie Schorow, author of Drinking Boston: A History of the City and its Spirits Hoefling's latest book is the culmination of a years-long pursuit. . . His unique philosophy departs from the template approach to mixology, using simple diagrams to illustrate how the components and techniques of a particular cocktail transform the canvas of a base spirit into a painting. And Hoefling deftly weaves the vital history of the cocktail into each chapter.--Lauren Clark, author of Crafty Bastards: Beer in New England from the Mayflower to Modern Day The Cocktail Seminars is a valuable resource that breaks down cocktails into classifications as to why they work as opposed to merely a collection of recipes left for the reader to interpret. Brian is constantly drawing references to previous drinks in the book to compare, contrast, and build on the concepts. The interconnection between drinks crosses styles such that a 19th century classic, for example, will explain why a Tiki drink works so well. Moreover, as an advanced cocktailian, this book had me rethinking and fine-tuning my thoughts on drinks, so this is not just a beginner's course. Bravo!--Frederic Yarm, author of Drink & Tell: A Boston Cocktail Book and Boston Cocktails: Drunk & Told, and the Cocktail Virgin blog One of the better drinks books published this year . . . The recipes are solid; the drink histories credible; the seminars deliver what they promise.--Eric Felten, One of Bevvy's Top Cocktail Books of 2021

Author Information

Brian D Hoefling is the founder of the Herzog Cocktail School, which has been educating the public on cocktail history and preparation since 2012. He is the author of Distilled Knowledge: The Science Behind Drinking’s Greatest Myths, Legends, and Unanswered Questions.

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