The Cocktail Lab

There are plenty of suitable resources out there if you want to learn to mix up a cocktail — but if you care about more than just the proper proportions, the right bitters to use in a Manhattan, or whether a Martini calls for gin or vodka, then check out The Cocktail Lab: Unraveling the Mysteries of Flavor and Aroma in Drink, with Recipes ($22). While it certainly contains plenty of drink recipes to keep you and your friends buzzed, it also goes deeper into the art and science behind mixology. It promises not only to teach you how to mix drinks, but to change the way you think about making cocktails.