Rating: 
Summary: Excellent reference, good buy!
Review: Although at first I was a little disappointed with the manner in which the recipes are arranged, once I figured out how to find what I wanted I quickly realized that this is an excellent volume. Someone will always complain about a recipe that is either not included or is different than the one that they know. I feel, however, that any bartender worth his salt would have read more than one book on bartending anyway. I did also like how this book included a guide on how to set up a bar. Overall, a great buy!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent reference, good buy!
Review: Although at first I was a little disappointed with the manner in which the recipes are arranged, once I figured out how to find what I wanted I quickly realized that this is an excellent volume. Someone will always complain about a recipe that is either not included or is different than the one that they know. I feel, however, that any bartender worth his salt would have read more than one book on bartending anyway. I did also like how this book included a guide on how to set up a bar. Overall, a great buy!
Rating: 
Summary: Frustratingly unusable
Review: As a manager of a liquor store, I am always asked how to make various drinks. Bartenders Bible is the only guide supplied by our buyer, which is unfortunate. It is cumbersome to use as it is organized, even in the index, by type of alcohol used in the drink. Most people are asking what type of alcohol (vodka, rum, etc.) goes into such and such drink, so how can they efficiently look it up by this method? Also, the book seldom has the drinks people are looking for, but is loaded with obscure mixtures that no one has heard of or cares about. This is a very user-unfriendly book.
Rating:
Summary: Now, if only I had better skill at making cocktails...
Review: Everything you need to know on making mixed alcoholic drinks, divided into easy to use sections. I don't have a bar in my dorm room (got space in and on top of my mini-fridge though), but that doesn't stop me from mixing drinks and inviting friends over for a game of "Thunder". And without this book, I'd still be drinking Coors (ugh!).
Rating:
Summary: Now, if only I had better skill at making cocktails...
Review: Everything you need to know on making mixed alcoholic drinks, divided into easy to use sections. I don't have a bar in my dorm room (got space in and on top of my mini-fridge though), but that doesn't stop me from mixing drinks and inviting friends over for a game of "Thunder". And without this book, I'd still be drinking Coors (ugh!).
Rating: 
Summary: Okay as a reference, but missing some popular drinks.
Review: Has some interesting info about the history, processes of distilling, etc., about alcohol. It is a fairly comprehensive guide, however, I don't think it is a "bible" of drinks. It is missing some "modern classics" such as the Cosmopolitan. Also, I only found one recipe for mulled or hot spiced wine. (One of my cookbooks has about 8 variations on this). This book may be good as a starter guide, or supplement to others, but it does not cover everything. Also, it would be nice to have some photographs for those of us who are "home" bartenders and could use some more visual information about presentation. (There are some black ink sketchs of glass styles, equipment, but that's about it). The hardback version, though, does have a handy "flippable" binding style. My final score - acceptable, but not the best.
Rating: 
Summary: A must have
Review: I almost didn't give this book a try after reading someone else's review. I gave it a try anyway, and I am glad I did. This book is indespensable for those getting started in bartending, or if you are just a wanna-be like me. Besides the fact that there are 1001 classic drink recipes, there are also many other reasons for this book. It is arranged by the main alcohol ingridient (i.e. Gin, Vodka, Whiskey), and at the start of each chapter there are descriptions of how the particular alcohol is made, and what the differences are between the subtypes (i.e. what's the difference between Irish Whiskey and Canadian Whiskey?). You also get brief histories about the most classic of drinks, like the Martini and Old Fashioned. I do not recomend this book over the Bartender's Black Book, nor vice versa. I suggest you buy both. Buy the Black Book for quick reference and buy this book for more history and depth. You won't regret it. I couldn't put it down My copy is only two months old and it is already experiencing a breaking spine and dog eared pages! :)
Rating:
Summary: Good book with many different drinks
Review: I bought this as a starter bar book. I liked how it describes the basic elements needed for a bar. I found some drinks missing (Cosmopolitan and Hurricane). I also found some descriptions of certain ingredients lacking (B&B and Benedictine). I can see how the set up for the book is bad for professional bartenders. Overall I would rate this a good book for home bars. Well worth the money for a basement bar.
Rating:
Summary: great for expanding drink recipe knowledge
Review: I found the listed recipies execelent. Many of the drinks I have never heard of, some I would now like to try. lacking was a section on proper pouring and bar ettiquite. This is a must at any bar home or work.
Rating:
Summary: Best Refrence Guide Available
Review: I have perused through my fair share of bartending guides, and have found two genres, those that concentrate on instructing you how to bartend, and those that simply provide material you should know to bartend. I prefer the latter due simply to the fact that every one needs to develop thier own style of doing things. One's style need not be radically different from common practice, but rather allow the bartender to serve in a manner he or she sees fit. I am here to tell you that The Bartender's Bible is a most indespensible REFERENCE guide. The one complaint I hear about it is that it is organized by main ingredient rather than alphabetically. This may present INSIGNIFIGANT difficulties in locating the recipe... but if the user has an IQ surpassing your average speed bump, the problem can be easily overcome. I think that the style is rather perfect for the average home bar, where one does not have access to an abundance of different liquors, and must make due with whatever is on hand. If you don't want step by step instructions on HOW to pour alcohal, this is your book. If you ARE looking for explicit directions on how to do menial task such as shaking the saker, or straining ice from a concoction... This 'aint 'fer 'yew.
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