“This is a cocktail book that gives me a lot to think about, and for me that’s the best kind.”

“As someone who cobbled together their understanding of cocktail theory the hard way, I wish I’d had The Cocktail Seminars at the start of my journey. So much about mastering cocktails is not rote memorization, but rather, understanding a set of patterns and how to adapt them to specific ingredients and circumstances. Brian’s book makes the underlying theoretical connections between recipes and ingredients easily accessible. Equally important, he draws heavily from the writing of today’s cocktail renaissance as well as from the classics to compile a highly engaging textbook and reference for cocktail geeks like me.”

“Hoefling’s latest book is the culmination of a years-long pursuit ignited by his college classmates’ plea to help them navigate the world of classic drinks. Navigate he does. His unique philosophy departs from the template approach to mixology, using simple diagrams to illustrate how the components and techniques of a particular cocktail transform the canvas of a base spirit into a painting. And Hoefling deftly weaves the vital history of the cocktail into each chapter.”

“The Cocktail Seminars is a valuable resource that breaks down cocktails into classifications as to why they work as opposed to merely a collection of recipes left for the reader to interpret. Brian is constantly drawing references to previous drinks in the book to compare, contrast, and build on the concepts. The interconnection between drinks crosses styles such that a 19th century classic, for example, will explain why a Tiki drink works so well. Moreover, as an advanced cocktailian, this book had me rethinking and fine-tuning my thoughts on drinks, so this is not just a beginner’s course. Bravo!”

“A well-mixed cocktail is not simply a drink; it is a story in a glass. Which is why Brian D. Hoefling’s “textbook” is such a pleasure to peruse. Hoefling has created a lively mixology history seminar as well as an instructional course; he stirs together legends, facts, and personal observations along with the techniques for making classic and overlooked cocktails - the Mint Julep, Ramos Gin Fizz, Sidecar, just to name a few. This is a master class in shake, stir, and spin for the home bartender.”