I didn't love this book. My husband is a big tequila and mezcal fan, so I'd hoped to broaden our repertoire. While there were a few recipes we are intrigued by, many contain seemingly strange combinations (not to mention flavours we have trouble associating with tequila and mezcal). Before you get on my case, have you ever mixed mezcal with creme de menthe? I didn't think so...

We joked that this book would be perfect for a suburban "margarita" party where guests were more interested in pretty, sweet drinks with umbrellas in them. If that is in fact what you're hoping to find, this book is a great option for you! If you're looking for recipes that are spirits forward, with subtle flavours to highlight the smokiness and bitterness, this book is not what you're looking for.

Thank you to both #NetGalley and Cider Mill Press for providing me an advance copy of Shane Carley’s #cocktail book, The Home Bartender: Mezcal and Tequila, in exchange for an honest review.

#TheHomeBartenderMezcalandTequila is an ode to tequila cocktails, mixed with a smattering of mezcal-based recipes in between. The recipes go beyond your standard margarita variations (though it has those too!), and contains both classic and unique twists on drinks that may not traditionally use these spirits, but when swapped, blend well with the flavor profiles.

One gripe I have with #cocktailbooks is that many tend to be too short, often serving as coffee table fodder due to myriad of glossy photos. While this book also has gorgeous and glossy photos, it is longer than average and filled with over one-hundred cocktail recipes, which cannot all be found in a quick online search. Most importantly, it doesn’t take hours of reading or scrolling to reach the ingredients and process. Like the introductory recipe for simple syrup, short and sweet.

The book opens with a brief summary of the basic tools and glassware required for cocktail-making, and provides an overview of categories of tequila and the differences between tequila and mezcal—beginning with the apt adage, which many tequila connoisseurs are familiar, all tequilas are mezcals, but not all mezcals are tequilas.

The recipes are divided according to one of six intelligible sections, which range from classics to outside the box-tails, consisting purely of ingredients, steps, the recommended drinkware, and a one sentence blurb to introduce the recipe. Happy to see a full chapter dedicated to Mezcal!

A few more sentences about the history of each recipe would have been a nice touch, but the extra content might have skewed the formatting for those using e-reader apps to view a single cocktail. The current format fits perfectly within a mobile screen.

To conclude, I’d rate it four overflowing ¡Saluds!

This cocktail cookbook has SO many yummy recipes that are easy to follow! Perfect for fans of tequila and mezcal.

My fiance and I are excited to make these:
-tequila tropic
-pineapple leap
-esspressarita
-frozen tequila refresher
-frozen pineapple margarita

Thank you NetGallet, Cider Mill Press and Sahne Carley for an ARC of this cookbook!

I’m not a big drinker but basically the only alcohol I like drinking is tequila, so when I saw this book I was really excited for the opportunity to learn about different drinks I could try besides a basic margarita. I love that it explains so much about the different things you NEED for the recipes and things that you don’t need but would be nice to have. I also appreciated that there were pictures of everything because I absolutely judge a book by its cover (or a drink by its glass presence). With so many recipes this is sure to keep anyone busy for a long time trying new things to find their favorite/signature drink.

Beautiful photos and easy to follow recipes combine to make the perfect how-to guide for tequila lovers everywhere!

I really like the book since it has great pictures and gives you an amazing overview over what you can do. The recipes are simple and I like the descriptions with pictures and that they’re easy to follow. There are plenty recipes and variations of one drink which can give it a new twist.

This was the BEST drink book I've read. My husband and I love to find new drinks to share and this was just so well done! I absolutely loved this book!