Essential Cocktails

Gain the skills and confidence to craft exceptional cocktails at home with drink expert and Holy City Handcraft founder Miguel Buencamino.

Whether you’re mixing your very first Old Fashioned or refining a favorite classic, Essential Cocktails guides you through the fundamentals of modern cocktail-making with core techniques, practical advice, and 85 thoughtfully crafted cocktail recipes. Cocktail creator, photographer, and founder of the popular cocktail-focused creative content production agency Holy City Handcraft, Miguel Buencamino, combines more than a decade of recipe development with an approachable teaching style that makes craft cocktails accessible to everyone.

Inside, you’ll discover beautifully constructed recipes ranging from timeless classics to fresh seasonal cocktails, created and stunningly photographed by the author himself. More than just a recipe collection, this is your trusted guide to the techniques, ingredients, and principles that make great cocktails work. With every recipe and lesson, you’ll feel more empowered to experiment, entertain, and create your own signature drinks.

Perfect for beginners, experienced home bartenders, and hospitality professionals alike, Essential Cocktails includes:

• The history behind iconic cocktails and the evolution of cocktail culture
• Essential spirits, liqueurs, syrups, bitters, and garnishes every home bar should have
• Beginner-to-advanced techniques that improve every drink you make
• Practical advice for stocking your bar, batching cocktails, and hosting the perfect cocktail party
• And much more!

Great cocktails aren’t just about what’s in the glass. They’re about bringing people together. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, hosting friends for dinner, or simply winding down after a long day, Essential Cocktails will help you craft drinks worth sharing and the memories that come with them.