Skip to main content

Review: The Backyard Bartender

Here's a funny thing: I got this book to review near the end of last summer, which didn't make much sense because it was a summer book but there was no summer left.

Also, I don't usually review books, so I had to learn how to read without moving my lips.

The Backyard Bartender: 55 Cool Summer Cocktails by Nicole Aloni made me long for summer as I used it to keep me warm through the cold, wet California winter.

Just kidding, California winters are awesome.

Anyway, the book covers a lot for such a tiny little tome. From how to stock your bar, to what tools you'll need to look like a pro, to plenty of tasty recipes to refresh and relax you on the veranda. (Would you like to kiss me on the veranda? No, the lips would be fine.)

One of my favorite sections that a lot of other books ignore is the section on Cocktails for a Crowd. When you throw a summer party you're not always interested in standing around and mixing cocktails for each person, this section teaches you some yummy recipes for pitchers and other concoctions that make your party easy and will keep the collective thirst quenched.

The book is beautifully photographed. I've noticed that I'm more inclined to make something from a cook book or a cocktail book when there's a picture. No, I'm not very imaginative. Yes, I'm okay with that. Thank you.

It's a great book and Amazon even has it on sale.

The Backyard Bartender: 55 Cool Summer Cocktails
by Nicole Aloni

Comments

Anonymous said…
Hey Rick,
thank you for the (very) kind words. This book was a ball to write and photograph. We went to Seaside Florida, which was a nice change of scenery from green (and moist) Seattle.

Love your site and your expert yet playful "voice".

bottoms up,
Nicole Aloni
nicolealoni.net/blog

Popular posts from this blog

Some thanks and virtual bartender

As of last week we averaged over 1,000 users per day. That's pretty damned cool. I'm surprised to see it myself considering how poor we rank on Technorati, but Performancing.com doesn't lie! In case you live under a rock, the Virtual Bartender are girls that do as you command, just like any good bartender does. They each have a huge list of commands and the most recent version has two girls. The shot pictured is them doing Star Wars. But they make out, shake ass, and many other things (no nudity, but plenty of cheesecake). They seem to do a lot of stuff except being able to make a martini. Brilliant. Virtual Bartender - [beer.com] Tags: bartender , beer , thanks

Electric Martini Maker

Martini's are such a difficult concept that Waring thought they would make it easier on all of us. Okay, so I know that the reason for having this is for Coolness Value and not for the idea that you actually need a machine to mix your martini's. The Waring Pro Electric Martini Maker can take your concoction and do the tedious work of mixing it by either stirring or shaking, depending on which button you press. Remember kids, stir gin, shake vodka. The on light even has a green olive on it. But what if I want a twist? Waring Pro WM007 Professional Electric Martini Maker - US$99.99 via Treehugger (Who says you need to buy carbon credits for owning this one)

Bluecoat Gin Review

The bottle of Bluecoat Gin arrived the other day and I ripped in to it with vigor. My newfound love for Gin has become boundless and when I get a new one I put it ahead of the line of all the other stuff that I still need to try and review. I was like a kid on Christmas Day, however I was heavily medicated and had to patiently bide my time until I was no longer popping pills in order to try it out lest my liver implode leaving a dark, black hole in my innards of Mickey Mantle proportions. How's it look? The bottle comes pretty much as advertised. It's a simple blue bottle with Bluecoat on it and a coat of arms. The cap is an easy-to-pull cork that did not make me do any sort of contortion in order to get it open. Thank you Bluecoat Gin! What's it smell like? One word: OhMyGod. This is far and away the best smelling gin I have ever put my nostrils to. The juniper and floral notes were amazing and did not take any time to get used to. Most gins require two whiffs: One...