Raising the Bar: Better Drinks, Better Entertaining

I picked up this fantastic book based on the overwhelmingly positive nature of the reviews posted and was not disappointed. It's not often that you find a bar guide that takes such care in pairing drinks with foods. On top of this Nick Mautone has taken incredible steps to make this book useful to the novice and experienced mixologist.Even if you should find yourself disliking the majority of drinks included in "Raising the Bar" you will gain a deeper insight into the art of pairing food and drink for a truly divine dining experience. This is an art that is lost in many homes, and one that needs the kind of attention and care that has been offered in this handy hardcover tome.While there are more advanced (but simple to prepare) drinks included in this book the overall message is one of the simplicity of enhancing any experience with food by including the proper spirits.In addition "Raising the Bar" is well put together: it's a sturdy hardcover book with thick pages, lush photography and easy to read type. The ease of using this book makes it an essential companion to your family bar, kitchen, or bookshelf.

This book is awesome! Sure, there's tons of books with tons of drink recipes. I've also browsed through tons of home bartending books that have cool little recipes.What separates RAISING THE BAR from these other books is that he includes some "classy" drinks that don't require outrageously priced liquors! Sure, there are a couple of recipes in the book that ask for a certain "high-end" brand name of liquor, but most of Nick Mautone's recipes give you some really classy drinks that you can make from the ingredients right in your home bar!This one is still constantly used by me, and I've owned it for more than a year now.

Very nice book. Good recipes

Nick Mautone has done a fabulous job in writing this book. It offers those of us that have a very limited bar vocabulary the abiility to create a vast variety of fabulous offerings. He also enlightens you with detail of the tools and ingredients you need to have on hand in order to make them. I have several books that I have used for this purpose in the past, but this is the best and I highly recommend it for everyone that entertains. The author also offers nonalcoholic recipes, hors d'oeuvres, punches, holiday warmers and summer mixes. It's a must! Here's to you Nick!Will JonesRocklin, CA  Raising the Bar: Better Drinks, Better Entertaining

I am a bartender at a high volume, outdoor bar in Key West Fl. Our bar is set up for maximum speed...and unfortunately many times that means that the final product is not something that I am entirely happy with...but it works fine for what we are doing.The recipes in this book are the kinds of drinks I would prepare on a day off, for friends from my own private bar at home.Drinks you can be proud to serve. Drinks that have been tweaked by a "master mixoligist"...and Nick Mautone is definitely a master of his craft.I collect cocktail books, and rarely will I purchase a new release and be pleased with it. This book however is quickly becoming one of my favorites, and I find myself referencing it more and more frequently.My only complaint is that the Mr. Mautone varies the servings for each recipe...which is really no big deal as they can easily be increased or decreased depending on your desired need. I am just used to reading a recipe and it yielding 1 drink.Filled with gorgeous color photos, the book is great as a coffee table book as well.

This is much more in-depth than your typical bar guide. It has lots of useful information that goes into the background of things and offers more than the simple "pour these ingredients together and mix" book. It is a bit opinionated but I'd rather have that than the opposite.

In "Raising the Bar", Nick Mautone brings a new fresh perspective to entertaining. Being an avid reader of his column in Cargo magazine, I was intrigued to learn that he had written a book on cocktails and entertaining. Mr. Mautone's approach to basic concepts about drink making deconstructed my original thinking and recompiled it into a completely limitless wealth of possibilities. A great example is after reading the recipe for the "Basil Martini", I will never look at a Bloody Mary the same way again.Though many other writers have published different ideas in food magazines, they always seem to be awkward and complicated. In contrast Mr. Mautone's easy and savory recipes and ideas leave me scratching my head and wondering "Why didn't I ever think of that?". Having had the opportunity to play with the drink recipes and pairing them with the food ideas "Raising the Bar" has surpassed any and all expectations I would have in an entertaining book.

I am drinking the Frozen Raspberry Daiquiri from the book as I type this (hic!), and it is delicious. I found this book at the library and am sick of checking it out, so now I am buying it. Every book in my kitchen has earned its place there (I have a very small kitchen), and this book will be no exception. The Summer Buck and the Watermelon Cooler are next...