Cocktail codexAlex Day
Cocktail codex
by Alex Day · first published 2018
6mentions
6recommended by
6HN commenters
2019–2025first – last mentioned
100% recommend
Why HN recommends it
Organizes cocktails around six root families so most drinks read as variations on a few templates; a clear, structured guide for beginners and enthusiasts who want to understand why recipes work.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
From the authors of the best-selling and genre-defining cocktail book Death & Co, Coctail Codex is a comprehensive primer on the craft of mixing drinks that employs the authors' unique "cocktail families" approach to give drink-makers of every level the tools to understand, execute, and improvise both classic and original cocktails--
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Death & Co's second book, "Cocktail Codex" [0], has a somewhat similar approach. The thrust of the book is that there are six root cocktails, and everything else is just a variation on them. That book, and Death & Co's first book, "Modern Classic…
on “Cocktail Similarity” ↗These are all truths to heed. I can also recommend the book Cocktail Codex[1] for anyone interested in learning more about making cocktails, it's a very interesting take on the subject. [1]: https://www.amazon.com/dp/160774970X
on “The Intoxicating History of Gin” ↗What’s the go-to “bible” book in any field that can take someone from beginner to intermediate—in that field, whether it’s programming, gardening, or welding? For example: Mixology -> Cocktail Codex by Alex Day
on “Ask HN: "Bible" like books in any field” ↗The first book is amazing for gin recipes. It also gave me a much greater appreciation for how different types of gin work in different cocktails. Their follow-up book, Cocktail Codex, includes a lot more recipes for drinks with vodka.
on “Cocktail Similarity” ↗…https://www.collectif1806.com/collectif-library/Collectif180... I think it's an oversimplification, but it's still useful advice. FWIW, this is by far the best book on cocktails i have ever read. Although i am going to buy a copy of 'Cocktail Codex', i think.
on “Cocktail Similarity” ↗…the author's Borg party a few weeks ago and I'm second-guessing my choices that night after reading this. Funny to see it on Hacker News! If you guys like reading about this kind of thing I recommend Cocktail Codex from the people behind Death & Co (referenced in the article). It's a great way to think about cocktails as a remixable grammar and the purpose behind all the mixing, muddling, and stirring.
on “I drank every cocktail” ↗