This Girl Walks Into A Bar: A Women's Guide to Professional Bartending and Home Mixology Paperback – January 29, 2012

This book is awesome. A fast, fun read, it's also packed with more useful info than you can shake a (swizzle) stick at. Insider tips from a bartending pro, cool illustrations to guide you through (ever wanted to know how to make citrus twist garnishes- you will now) and a crash course for anyone looking to switch careers or supplement their current one. As someone who wasn't looking to get into bartending but rather be able to mix a fab cocktail at home for myself or a crowd, This Girl Walks Into A Bar nails it. The Home Mixology section lists all sorts of ingredients to play with to create your own signature cocktail. Cocktail Party 101 is a step by step, level by level primer on how to mix for a crowd with everything from supply lists to drink and food suggestions. With three levels to work through I have no doubt I'll be a bartend at home pro in no time. I think this would be a great hostess gift too, instead of the usual bottle of wine (but maybe with a bottle of tequila!).

I'm a bartender who have gone through bartender training (it helped a lot). Working in a bar for 8 months now and I got this book to just read for fun. This book is very well put together and easy to follow. The chapter about difficult customers and how to deal with them is just wonderful, I have found myself in such situations and if I had this knowledge back then I would have handled the situation a bit better. However I wish that the book stressed more on how important it is NOT to serve someone who is ALREADY intoxicated. You could get in a LOT of trouble and it's just not worth all the risks.I give this book a five star.

I am always looking for cookbooks and mixology books that can help make entertaining at home fun and easy and "This Girl Walks Into a Bar" is really FUN and EASY to read. My favorite section is Chapter 13 - Cocktail Party 101, there are several different party blueprints that are easy to follow. A no nonsense approach to making cocktails and being the hostess with the mostess, whether you are working behind a bar or in your own home bar. I loved the graphics and illustrations - it gave the book a really flirty, smart and fun vibe. It is a perfect gift for your girlfriends on its own or along with a bottle of your favorite drink.

Smart and savvy, This Girl Walks Into a Bar de-mystifies the art of making a drink while it entertains with stories and tips backed by experience. A fun read, I'd recommend it to anyone considering bartending and will certainly use it as a reference next time I entertain guests. Its clear organization and great illustrations of tools, techniques, and barware - along with removable cocktail flashcards - make it a unique and useful book for home gatherings and anyone considering a new or supplemental job. A valued addition to my "cookbook" library, and a practical gift for friends at a reasonable price.

A friend shared this book with me. After just a quick glance, I loved it. As a former bartender, this would have been an incredible guide. Not only does it provide recipes and free-pour instructions, it also gives tips on how to be a successful bartender. I bought a copy for my 30 year old daughter. Even if she never tends bar, it's a great resource for home-entertaining. I highly recommend this book for anyone -- especially women -- who are planning to tend bar. It makes a great gift too.

A friend of my wife's recommended this book for the drink recipes at the end. Little did we expect it would be such a fun and colorful read! This book highlights all you need to know about the ins and outs of the world of bartending, and offers amazing recipes to ensure you'll be a bar favorite! We don't bartend professionally, but our friends and family sure have enjoyed our cocktail parties. I give credit to this book for making our entertaining so successful!

This book is awesome! It's witty yet informative. All the drink recipes I've tried so far are delicious. This book has also taught me not only how to make lemon twists and perfect wedges but how to free pour. I highly recommend this book especially if you're looking to become a bartender or just want to make amazing drinks for your friends like I do!

I love this guide! The writing is sharp and often hilarious, and it's packed to the brim with all kinds of useful information about liquid happiness. I'm really impressed that this book is both funny and fast-paced yet also the most practical of how-to guides. One of my favorite features is the "100 cocktail recipe flashcards" sections -- my next summer shindig will be BOMB! Thanks Ladies!