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The Waldorf Astoria Bar Book Hardcover – Illustrated, May 17, 2016

by Frank Caiafa (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 206 ratings
See all formats and editions
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ESSENTIAL FOR THE HOME BAR COCKTAIL ENTHUSIAST AND THE PROFESSIONAL BARTENDER ALIKE - From the basics and pro tips to the historical background that will tie it all together, this is a must-own book.

JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION BOOK AWARD NOMINEE: BEVERAGE
SPIRITED AWARD® NOMINEE: BEST NEW COCKTAIL & BARTENDING BOOK

"The textbook for a new generation." --Jeffrey Morgenthaler, author of The Bar Book 

"A true classic in its own right . . . that will be used as a reference for the next 100 years and more." --Gary Regan, author of The Joy of Mixology 
                                              Frank Caiafa--bar manager of the legendary Peacock Alley bar in the Waldorf Astoria--stirs in recipes, history, and how-to while serving up a heady mix of the world's greatest cocktails. Learn to easily prepare pre-Prohibition classics such as the original Manhattan, or daiquiris just as Hemingway preferred them. Caiafa also introduces his own award-winning creations, including the Cole Porter, an enhanced whiskey sour named for the famous Waldorf resident.
Each recipe features tips and variations along with notes on the drink's history, so you can master the basics, then get adventurous--and impress fellow drinkers with fascinating cocktail trivia. The book also provides advice on setting up your home bar and scaling up your favorite recipe for a party.

Since it first opened in 1893, the Waldorf Astoria New York has been one of the world's most iconic hotels, and Peacock Alley its most iconic bar. Whether you're a novice who's never adventured beyond a gin and tonic or an expert looking to expand your repertoire, The Waldorf Astoria Bar Book is the only cocktail guide you need on your shelf.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    416 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Books
  4. Publication date
    May 17, 2016
  5. Dimensions
    1.3 x 5.7 x 8.4 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0143124803
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0143124801
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

2017 JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION BOOK AWARD NOMINEE: BEVERAGE

2017 SPIRITED AWARD® NOMINEE: BEST NEW COCKTAIL & BARTENDING BOOK

“The textbook for a new generation.”
—Jeffrey Morgenthaler, Bar Manager of Clyde Common (Portland, Oregon) and author of The Bar Book: Elements of Cocktail Technique

“A must. Mixologists take note: one of the world's rarest, most classic cocktail books has been updated for the first time since 1934. The Waldorf Astoria Bar Book by Frank Caiafa, bar manager of the Waldorf chic Peacock Alley watering hole, is not merely a reissue but a celebration of all things imbibable, as well as the iconic hotel itself. . . . We're getting thirsty just writing about it.”
—Maxim

“The Waldorf Astoria Bar Book will keep a cocktail-loving dad busy for a long time and show him not only how to craft serious drinks but how to prepare a home bar.”
—Cigar Aficianado

“As bar manager of the Waldorf's Peacock Alley, Caiafa is the gatekeeper to many of history's oldest cocktail recipes and in a sense, an usher into the ways we will drink them in the future.”
—Town and Country

“The Waldorf Astoria Bar Book, along with Cole Porter’s “You’re the Top” (written there) and Veal Oscar (invented there), counts among the hotel’s cultural legacies.”
—Gotham

“The instructions are as straightforward as the tales behind the concoctions are lively, meandering, and inviting. Caiafa is neither a mad scientist nor a cop enforcing the correct proportions of a martini. He insists that the best drink is the one made the way you like it. . . . A book steeped in history but delivered in a fresh and inviting new format.”
—Library Journal(starred review)

“Frank has done the un-doable. He has taken The Old Waldorf Astoria Bar Book and brought it completely up to date with this brand new tome that will, I predict, be hailed as a true classic in its own right, standing tall next to books such as Jim Meehan’s PDT Cocktail Book, another volume that will be used as a reference for the next 100 years and more.”
—Gaz Regan, author of The Joy of Mixology and cocktail columnist

“Anyone who’s ever made a drink will appreciate the countless hours Caiafa spent on top of his daily grind mixing, balancing, comparing and taking notes, putting together this impressive compendium one drink at a time. The Waldorf Astoria Bar Book is nothing short of a terrific recipe book I highly recommend to cocktail enthusiasts, and an essential reference manual professional bartenders will be using for years to come.”
—Martin Corriveau, justcocktails.org

About the Author

Frank Caiafa was the bar manager of the highly celebrated Peacock Alley and La Chine restaurants at The Waldorf Astoria from 2005 until its recent closure. His inventive use of house-made infusions, liqueurs and fresh ingredients was a torchbearer for cocktail culture in NYC. Caiafa’s hospitality consulting and management enterprise, Handle Bars NYC/Global Inc., has been called upon for its expertise in projects both nationally and abroad. His topical writing and personal recipes have been published in the New York Times, Wine Enthusiast, and Time Out New York, among other publications.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books; Illustrated edition (May 17, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0143124803
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143124801
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.12 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 1.3 x 5.7 x 8.4 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 206 ratings

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Frank Caiafa

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*****

Frank Caiafa was the bar manager of the highly celebrated Peacock Alley and La Chine restaurants at The Waldorf Astoria from 2005 until its recent closure. His inventive use of house-made infusions, liqueurs and fresh ingredients was a torchbearer for cocktail culture in NYC. Caiafa’s hospitality consulting and management enterprise, Handle Bars NYC/Global Inc., has been called upon for its expertise in projects both nationally and abroad. His topical writing and personal recipes have been published in the New York Times, Wine Enthusiast, and Time Out New York, among other publications.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
206 global ratings
Great recipes with cool history!
5 Stars
Great recipes with cool history!
Very cool book! We purchased 5 of these to pass out as Christmas gifts to individuals in the food & beverage industry who have a connection with Waldorf Astorias.The book has a great list of at home bar essentials such as glassware, barware, spirits and mixers. A good amount of the recipes have a story behind them which makes the drinks just that much more interesting. Backstories to anything food & beverage makes the experience just that much better! Highly recommend this book!
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Top reviews from the United States

JP
5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive Cocktail Cache: A Must for Enthusiasts
Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2016
Verified Purchase
Great reading for those who are new to premium spirits and cocktails. Experienced home mixologists will not be disappointed with recipes for homemade oregat, bitters and infusions. This book spans all cocktail subgenres including modern, tiki, and classic. Mr Caiafa includes small vignettes with some of recipes, I found these to be very enjoyable and well written. He often describes the evolution of cocktail recipes using a historical perspective.

There are at least a half-dozen variations on the classic martini, altering ratios and styles of the gins, vermouths and bitters to create a new cocktail.
I found many of the liquors, juices and other ingredients to be easily accessible and not too obscure. Many of the cocktails could be easily made on a Wednesday evening with a well stocked home bar.

I have no doubt this is better than any currently available cocktail "handbook" This is a must buy if you are looking for classy and tasty cocktails.
5 people found this helpful
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MagiKazoc
5.0 out of 5 stars A witty, savvy update of classic cocktails
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2019
Verified Purchase
The Waldorf recipe book is charmingly unique. It's neither avant-garde nor old-fashioned - nearly all of the recipes are relics from the venerable hotel's "Old Books", freshened up to fit modern palates. It's an interesting juxtaposition of classical flavor and culture with modern ingredients and style.

The hotel's Peacock Alley bar heavily employs some idiosyncratic ingredients like raspberry syrup, Old Tom gin, chocolate bitters, and an infinite number of eggs, that add a distinctive character to the drinks. It's fun to flip through the pages, compare old-fashioned preferences with the modern palate, contemplate the imaginative and sometimes bizarre recipes, and learn about the longstanding hotel's uncomfortable transition into the modern era.

Also, the last chapter has authentic recipes from the Old Books that are literally poisonous, which is neat.
5 people found this helpful
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David Bradford
5.0 out of 5 stars Well written, authoritative, and entertaining
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2016
Verified Purchase
Frank Caiafa brings a gourmand’s sensibility to his “Bar Book,” running counter the vocational approach of other bar guides. Manager of the Peacock Alley bar in the Waldorf Astoria, Caiafa speaks with confidence and authority, passing judgement on modern trends and common corruptions of traditional cocktails. Prefaced by history of the Waldorf and Astoria hotels (which were finally merged with the original Peacock Alley occupying the space between them) and the key figures in their operations, Caiafa moves to a description of bar essentials (both equipment and spirits), mixing techniques (a Martini is never shaken, despite James Bond’s recipe), a section on preparing infusions, advice on glassware and the importance/preparation of garnishes. Following that introduction, he offers recipes and comments on various cocktails, arranged in alphabetical order. He passes unambiguous judgements on the legitimacy of various drinks and the methodology/ingredients essential to their being considered authentic. Of the corrupted modern preparation of the Old Fashioned, he comments, “I have made plenty of them in my day, but by the time we opened Peacock Alley in 2005, this was exactly the type of bastardized recipe we set out to right or, at the very least, bring attention to the original version.” In distinguishing the julep, he speaks authoritatively that “Any julep that contains anything other than some form of the ingredients mentioned in the basic recipe here, and that is shaken and not served in the glass that it was prepared in, relinquishes the title of julep and falls under the general descriptor of a smash.” Caiafa, despite his vast knowledge and his confidence is never pedantic or curmudgeonly. He’s simply very confident in imparting encyclopedic information and unwavering opinion. The one troublesome aspect of the book is that his recipes frequently calls for ingredients a bit too precious and obscure to be found in the typical home bar, but he acknowledges the necessity of improvision in those instances. This is recommended as a readable and informative book.
20 people found this helpful
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Illuminatus
4.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2016
Verified Purchase
Frank Caiafa, manager of the lovely Peacock Alley bar in the Waldorf-Astoria, has culled drink recipes from a number of old and venerable bar manuals, some originating from the Waldorf itself, and distilled them into a wonderful collection of delightful prescriptions. The historical notes and suggested twists on the many recipes make this a fine browsing book as well as a very useful guide. And the volume is most attractive.

Make a Martini and enjoy a delightful moment in Peacock Alley.
2 people found this helpful
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edward s goldberg md
5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive Source
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2024
Verified Purchase
You need an encyclopedia for any cocktail? How about a gift that is sure to tickle any recipient? BUY THIS BOOK!
Great historical tidbits and recipes that were clearly perfected by a perfectionist.
Have fun, you can’t miss.
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Sean
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, if only I wasn’t a novice.
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2019
Verified Purchase
From the very prologue I can tell this book is rich with the saturated fats of Waldorf Astoria, old NY history. The bartender, speaking as an AP class professor but gently, as to a novice bunch, is captivating, educational and... frustrating. You know that feeling when everyone in the class was debating whether the answer was 17 or 18 and you had 157? Yeah, that’s me. The prologue was fantastic. It was like the ramping up of some really fantastic TCM classic cinema - and then *floop* right on my face. Where or how you even get these ingredients is beyond me. I’m a regular at my local liquor store and each employee asks me what I’m concocting today. I need the most elite of liquors to even have the most recognizable of drinks. So, while I appreciate the very magnitude of cocktails I may experience at the Waldorf Astoria - I may never be able to duplicate them. This book, is absolutely spellbinding - if you’re an experienced mixologist or just fancy a headache trying to navigate liqueurs you’ve never even heard of. You think Tito’s is in this book?? Sorry, it’s some fantastical Russian fairy p*ss, No. 10. So, while this book is excellent, it’s probably not for you, chad, the regular guy.
8 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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N. M
5.0 out of 5 stars The best cocktails
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 17, 2020
Verified Purchase
The best cocktails from probably the best hotel in the world, which I was lucky enough to stay at in the month before it stayed. We desperately wanted this book while there and kept forgetting to purchase but ordered it from Amazon for our return. We've enjoyed re-creating the amazing cocktails we enjoyed in the Bull and Bear bar and it's like a little taste of New York & the Waldorf itself.
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Axel Riquelme
5.0 out of 5 stars Un buen título
Reviewed in Mexico on October 5, 2017
Verified Purchase
Un extraordinario título para empezar, es muy interesante y con muy buenos conejos. Indispensable en la biblioteca de todo bartender.
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Cat Lady 60
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Historical Drink Book
Reviewed in Canada on April 17, 2017
Verified Purchase
Bought this for my nephew who is mastering Home Bar Tending. He found it informative, in particle, the history of a drink.
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Khe
5.0 out of 5 stars Herausragendes Cocktailbuch
Reviewed in Germany on September 15, 2018
Verified Purchase
Sehr gutes und informatives Cocktailbuch mit Rezepten für Hausgemachte Zutaten und Hintergrundinformationen zu den einzelnen Cocktails.
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Arianna McLaughlin
5.0 out of 5 stars Great classic book
Reviewed in Canada on June 3, 2019
Verified Purchase
Classic cocktail book. Recommend
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