A Muddled Thoughts- Holiday Gift Guide: Cocktail Kingdom
Posted in Mixology Tools on December 7th, 2009 by halw – 1 Comment
Several of the Vintage Cocktail Books, Bitters, and Bar Tools you can purchase from Cocktail Kingdom.
Books, Bitters and Bar Tools oh my. Where can you find all those eccentric and interesting bitters, and all that cool barware your favorite cocktail den uses?
How about Cocktail Kingdom? Started five years ago, by Greg Boehm a children’s book publisher, and avid vintage cocktail book collector as a side project to reprint several of his favorite vintage cocktail books for some friends in the mixology community, Cocktail Kindgom has since expanded to a source for all your cocktail needs.
Whether it’s for reprints of vintage cocktail books from the 1800 and 1900’s such as “Harry Johnston’s Bartender Manuel” or imported barware from places such as Japan, and hard to find bitters such as Bittermen’s Xocaltl Mole Bitters, Cocktail Kingdom has it all.
A few of our favorite picks from Cocktail Kingdom’s constantly expanding catalog:
Books-
Harry Johnson’s Bartenders Manual(Pictured Above)-
A look inside the rules and conduct of how a bar was run in the late 1800′s. In addition to covering the in’s and outs of how to properly run a bar from inventory, to mixing drinks to how to hire, Harry’s book also gives the reader an in-depth look at how cocktails were created during this time period and how some of the now classic recipes came to be.
The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks By David Embury(Pictured Above)
Essentially the 1948 equivalent of Dale DeGroff’s “The Art of the Cocktail”, David Embury was the everyday business man who just happened to enjoy cocktails so much he decided to create a book that details the hows, and whys of creating a cocktail. This book covers everything from glassware to why one type of rum works best in a drink and all techniques you need to properly give birth to a cocktail.
Bar Tools and Bitters:
Naranja Japanese Metal on Metal Two Piece Shaking Tins(Pictured Above)
Sold as a two separate pieces, with the bottom retailing for $9.95 and the top retailing for $8.95, the metal of the tins enable the ice to get the liquids inside slightly colder than if you used a glass boston shaker. They metal on metal tins are also significantly lighter weight than metal and glass combinations and are very easy to snap together and pull apart.
Bartools:
With a wide range of different style barspoons from Japan, the UK, and Germany Cocktail Kingdom offers you a variety of unique styles including styles with a built in fork(pictured above), or a removable muddler as well lengths ranging from 32cm all the way up to 50cm .
Cocktail Kingdom also stocks Strainers such as the Bonzer Hawthorne Strainer imported from the UK.
The Bonzer Hawthorne Strainer
As well as mixing glasses such as the Yarai Mixing Glass and the WMF Mixing Glass from Germany.
The Yarai Mixing Glass
A WMF Mixing Glass From Germany
Bitters:
As a favorite ingredient of bartenders, Bitters often help balance out a drink.
Cocktail Kingdom stocks a wide range of bitters including the The Bitter Truth’s line.
The Bittermens Xocalti Mole Bitters-
Bittermen's Xocolatl Mole Bitters
Taking inspiration from classic Mexican Chocolate Mole Sauce, this bitter has been a favorite of cocktail lounges such as Death and Company, PDT, and Milk Honey for several years before finally being released to the retail market in July of 2009.
With notes of spice and chocolate this can give a unique new spin on many a cocktail.
Between reprints of vintage cocktail books, imported barware and unique bitters, Cocktail Kingdom stocks enough to make your favorite cocktail and spirits enthusiast happy this holiday season.
