11 cocktail recipe books to make at-home mixology a breeze (as well as being the perfect festive stocking filler)

Everyone enjoys a fancy tipple from time to time, whether they're partying among friends or taking a moment alone to relax. But sometimes you need more than just a gin and tonic to tickle your tastebuds – you need cocktails.

The problem? Most people are put off from making their own cocktails at home, because they don't know where to start. Is it better for a martini to be shaken, not stirred? Does it matter which order you add the ingredients of a piña colada? How many ice cubes should you add to a margarita without diluting the flavour??? So. Many. Questions. 

Enter: cocktail recipe books, here to reveal the answers to all your cocktail queries and more – stripping away all the information you don't need so you can make delicious, simple cocktails in just a few minutes.

These books will show you how to whip up some of the the tastiest and prettiest cocktails (and mocktails) you've ever seen, perfect for impressing your friends at your next party.

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By Alice Barraclough and Georgia Lockstone

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First up: how to make cocktails at home

You don't need to go to a fancy cocktail bar to have a great drink. But if you're going to make cocktails at home, you'll need a cocktail recipe book and the right tools…

1. The Shaker
   While some cocktails can be stirred, lots of them need to be shaken. There are three popular cocktail shaker styles – cobbler, Boston and French – and a home bar really isn't complete without one. The most common style (and simplest) is the Boston shaker, which is essentially a two-piece cocktail shaker, with a larger outer tin (known as a ‘can’) and then a slightly smaller glass. We really love this classic Alessi cocktail shaker. Totally timeless.
2. Long handled bar spoon
   For stirred drinks, you’ll need a long-handled bar spoon (sometimes called a ‘muddling spoon’), to reach the bottom of tall glasses and pitchers to thoroughly stir in and blend cocktails. They're not expensive, so any stainless steel mixing spoon will do – such as this John Lewis & Partners one, for £4.50.
3. Strainer
   Mixologists use a drink strainer to prevent ice from falling into the cocktail. A Hawthorne strainer – consisting of a handled disc with a spring wound around the edge – works well with a Boston shaker. This two pack from Amazon is the best place to start for novice cocktail makers.
4. Ice cubes
   No one wants to be served a lukewarm cocktail. Make sure your freezer is fully stocked with ice cubes. We love these large square ice cube moulds from John Lewis & Partners – perfect for a whiskey sour.
5. Glasses
   The type of glass you use depends on the type of drink you're making. Long drinks require a tall glass such as a highball, while stemmed glasses can be used for cocktails served without ice.