There seems to be more cocktail books being launched these days than teen romance novels. Everyone who's ever been anyone in the bar business, and plenty of people who've never been anywhere near a bar, seem to want to get their list of favorite recipes out there for you to take a quick glance through, admire the writer's selection, then put it on your shelf for the sheer purpose of showing others how many bartending books you have.

Lucky for you, I've read them all. Some I've read from cover-to-cover like a good spy novel you can't put down. Others, I've read the foreword, a few of the opening paragraphs, some of the crappy recipes, then put it somewhere on the bookshelf I'll never look again. Not only have I read them I've used plenty as I started out as a blogger, moved in to event catering, and then started my own bar. You're getting the real thing here.

Maybe you have a booze book library that rivals that of the most dedicated cocktail nerds or maybe you're just getting started. Either way, you ain't nuthin' if you don't have these in your possession and have read every page.

Art of the Bar by Jeff Hollinger and Rob Schwartz $22.45 - Amazon.com

Art of the Bar is listed here because it was such a seminal book in the beginning of my quest for craft cocktail knowledge that I consider it an insult when someone doesn't have it. Of course, I also consider those tiny pieces of parsley on my plate at a diner being used as "decoration" an insult, so take that as you wish.

Plenty of books cover the classics but Art of the Bar covers them, their history, and technique, while also teaching you how to venture off on your own in the world of cocktail creation. It weaves a storyline through the recipes listed and has some great photography to boot. Absinthe Brasserie & Bar can quite easily be pointed to as the beginning of the west coast craft cocktail scene and this book holds up today. Read it and you'll understand why.

This book is the newest (of these recommendations) to the scene but it's going to be around for a long time. It goes into the details of what a proper bar should be run like while giving great cocktail ideas to back up each of the techniques. This book is loaded with technique, the science behind the craft, and some solid stories that bring it all together. Morgenthaler runs a James Beard nominated bar in Portland, has a successful cocktail video series, writes for Playboy Magazine, and is an insufferable bastard when it comes to his knowledge of the craft. It's all kind of amazing to watch. If this list was about the one book you needed to have in your library, this book could quite possibly be the one I'd pick.

Unlike the rest of the books on this list, pretty much everyone will agree on the importance of "Imbibe!" The detail is astounding and reading through the history of cocktails is like reading through the cultural history of America (with a side trip or two to Europe) for the last 250 years. This book is important and rich and makes you realize the passion that so many people in the service industry have. The book settles arguments and creates entirely new ones as well as serves as the foundation for every other conversation you're going to have about cocktails. The book was recently revised to get even more ridiculously detailed.

I strongly believe that you don't truly appreciate something until you know the history of that something. "Imbibe!" gets you up to speed.

If Wondrich covers the whole history of cocktails, Abou-Ganim launched us in to the current era with this book. It starts with the basics then moves in to simple and tasty recipes that will please just about anyone and even get you to satisfy that picky person who thinks cocktails "all taste gross." If the perfect cocktail is about balance then this book has the balance of a perfect cocktail.

The book is great for beginners but I recently went back through it and was still able to pick up a few things, the mark of a great tome. If you're trying to impress an entire audience or just a single person, this book has something for you.

Gary "Gaz" Regan's book is probably the one you'll find behind every bartender's Point-Of-Sale system, hidden away in case a customer decides to play "Stump the Bartender" and the bartender wants to make sure he gets it right. Sure, the term "Mixology" stand out like a cancelled TV show but you immediately understand what the book does. Gaz has forgotten more about taking care of his customers than most people ever care to learn and the amount of recipes in this book is just right. It doesn't have 5000+ recipes because you don't need 5000+ recipes. You need the 350 that are included in this book. Get these down and you got it down.

Jim Meehan's book is a snapshot of what's happening right now all over the world and teaches you not only how to lay out your bar but has a list of cocktails that inspire you to go out and find even more. Even better, the two pages it devotes to customer service are better than entire books you could get on the subject, it has to be read to truly be appreciated just how succinctly he is able to take care of guests.

Bonus: The size of the book makes it pretty easy to keep in a tote or bar bag, ensuring that you'll never be without a great recipe at your side.

Not every book that sets you up for greatness behind the bar has to be about being behind the bar. Edna Lewis wrote this book 30 years ago and the love and care that goes into each story and dish is still every bit as evident today. The tapestry of stories show such a care and reverence for each ingredient that you fall in love with every single bite that's portrayed. Growing up as a young girl in a Virginia farming community that had been settled by free slaves shines a light on the value of taking simple, tasty ingredients and making them really shine. If you love food and drink, you're going to love this book and it will inspire you and educate you in a way that no other book will do.

There you go, 7 books that will get you started or take your game to the next level. Some of you reading this will protest with cries of "What about the Savoy?" or "Where's Dale DeGroff?" There are a lot of great books out there and if you want them to get the recognition they deserve you're going to have to write your own damn list.