“In the cocktail world, there has long been a debate among those who follow our line of work closely: Is the process of making a cocktail an art or a craft? In The Goto Bartender’s Guide, Kenta Goto has answered that question by asking: Why can’t it be both? A compelling read by Goto and Rothbaum, two experts in their respective fields, this book will be required reading for a long time to come.”—Jeffrey Morgenthaler, bartender and author of The Bar Book
“I’ve been a great fan of Kenta Goto and his cocktails for nearly two decades—first at the legendary Pegu Club, then at his own Bar Goto and Bar Goto Niban. Nowadays, I don’t go to New York often enough to taste and talk with him about his explorations in the spirits worlds, West and East, but The Goto Bartender’s Guide is the next best thing: dozens of Kenta’s highly personal recipes from across the years and fascinating reflections on the making of what he calls a ‘New York bar with a Japanese soul.’”—Harold McGee, author of On Food and Cooking and Nose Dive
“In these pages, Kenta does something remarkable: He breaks down the building blocks of great drinks—measurement, dilution, structure, and intention—while making them accessible to both professionals and home bartenders. His belief that a cocktail should taste perfect every single time, no matter who makes it, speaks to the integrity that defines his work, and I couldn’t agree more that consistency is the highest form of respect for a guest. This is an essential read for anyone who cares about great drinks and is a gift to bartenders and drink lovers alike.”—Monica Berg, award-winning bartender and entrepreneur
“As a chef, I am inspired by the beauty and purity of an ingredient, and Kenta does the same when he begins to create a cocktail. He thinks like a chef, by building from seasonal ingredients and layering flavors upon that. It’s skilled, elegant magic to be the master architect of a cocktail like Kenta is. With Noah as a co-author and Kenta showing us how to master the basics, this book is a must-have for anyone who has ever fallen in love with drinking, making, and learning about cocktails. I’m starting with the Yuzu Ramos Fizz, and I can’t wait to get behind the bar and into this book with Kenta and Noah.”—Amanda Freitag, chef
“With this masterful new book, readers can soak up Kenta Goto’s creativity, precision, and unparalleled attention to detail. The Goto Bartender’s Guide is not just a beautiful book with stunning photos but also one filled with accessible recipes and illustrations that make it approachable for the individual to create these cocktails at home. Kenta has managed to examine every step of the bartending process and find a way to improve long-standing methods of crafting drinks, similar to how chefs do with food. I really respect and admire his approach to the art of creating cocktails and serving guests. It’s an inspiring guide that makes entertaining at home both elegant and delicious.”—Marcus Samuelsson, award-winning chef, restaurateur, and author
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