Intrepid Mixology: The Best Cocktail Books for Black Belt Bartenders

Try your hand at recipes from the world-famous craft cocktail mecca in New York, Death & Co. including one of the bar's hallmarks: the infamous mezcal drink "Naked and Famous."

Another celebrated New York speakeasy, PDT, is behind this cocktail tome that includes vintage drinks, unique PDT recipes, cocktails from other bars in other cities, as well as classics.

Dale DeGroff, AKA the King of Cocktails, made his mark in the industry crafting classic cocktails as head bartender at the Rainbow Room in NYC in the 90s. Ask any serious bartender: this book is a reliable reference guide for any aspiring master mixologist.

The late "Gaz" Regan is a bar world legend. This collection of 350 recipes is classified by ingredients, and incorporates the techniques and taste nuances of each cocktail. Negroni fans will lap up his take on the beverage, which was his signature drink.

Do you know how the shape of an ice cube can affect the final result of a cocktail? Anyone who aspires to be a master in both the art and science of mixology will be well-served by studying this book to understand the chemistry and physics of cocktails.