"Proof that simplicity is best . . . it’s useful, straightforward and will take your cinq à sept to new heights." —The Kit

From the co-founder of Ampersand Distilling Company, a collection of cocktail recipes that relies on just five bottles to build your bartending style with ease and confidence.

Think of it as the capsule closet for cocktails. Five bottles around which your inner bartender can emerge with skill, savvy and a little flare for the dramatic when it’s called for.

Playwright, columnist, and co-founder of Ampersand Distilling Company, Jessica Schacht knows we all contain multitudes and believes with a little curation and mastery of the basics, we can succeed at elevating the everyday and cultivating a good cocktail hour.

The bottles: gin, whiskey, sweet and dry vermouth, and Campari (plus bonus recipes for bubbly). The setting: living room, backyard, window seat, and the wild beyond. The mixologist? Oh, that’s you.

In this beautifully photographed collection, Jessica Schacht, co-founder of Ampersand Distilling Company, presents her take on classics (like the G & T, the Old Fashioned, the Martini, and the Negroni), collections (sours, punches, and such), and contemporaries (a few inventive new drinks to pique your creativity). There’s a chapter of zero-proofs in part inspired by the abundance of new alcohol-free spirits on the market now, and another dedicated to keeping your vacation drinks game classy, from the airplane to the B&B to the beach.

In addition to the recipes The Five-Bottle Bar supplies a solid foundation in bartending basics (tools, techniques, thoughts on glassware and garnishes), the condensed history of spirits, and tips for setting up your minimalist bar cart.

Jessica Schacht is the cofounder of the multigenerational family-run Ampersand Distilling Company and author of the History Glass column in the Cowichan Valley Voice. When she’s not whipping up new recipes for the distillery, you can bet she’s tending to her garden or walking in the woods. She is grateful to live in the Cowichan Valley in the home she shares with her husband and sons.

Jessica Schacht's profile page

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"A woman after my own heart . . . What a cute book!" —Jillian Harris, Canadian media personality and co-author of Fraiche Food Full Hearts Cookbook

"Proof that simplicity is best . . . it’s useful, straightforward and will take your cinq à sept to new heights." —The Kit

"A minimalist bar cart for stylish, timeless, cocktails made with ease and simplicity." —MONTECRISTO Magazine

"A super-accessible blueprint for creating a great home bar without breaking the booze bank." —BC Business

"An excellent guide for aspiring home bartenders. While the recipes are relatively simple on paper, the final products will leave at-home sippers impressed." —Eat North

"Jessica Schacht, co-owner Ampersand Distilling Co., has distilled the art of the cocktail to five essential bottles... Within that lies a world of creativity, tastes and flavours. The Five-Bottle Bar supplies a solid foundation in the essentials—tools, techniques, tips, glassware and garnishes—everything you need to know to set up your minimalist bar cart." —The Tomato

"The Five-Bottle Bar demystifies the process of cocktail making. It’s a fun and beautifully prepared book. Bottoms up, everyone!" —BC Magazine

“Less can sometimes also be more. I know Jessica Schacht from Ampersand Distilling up in Duncan actually has a book coming out later this year—The Five-Bottle Bar. So you don’t need a lot of room to make great cocktails.” —Monday Magazine

"You will be impressed by how many uncomplicated, yet refined, cocktails can be created from just five bottles." —EAT Magazine

"Build a full cocktail bar with just five-plus bottles." —Artisan Distillers Canada

”Love a good read accompanied by a good drink? The Five-Bottle Bar by first-time author, Jessica Schacht, co-founder of Ampersand Distilling Co., is the book for you!” —Vita Daily

"For anyone new to planning a home bar or wishing to entertain with cocktails on a budget" —Culinary Historians of Canada

"What a great way to give the home bartender some awesome cocktail recipes without breaking the bank and keeping it approachable. Simple, yet delicious cocktails for anyone who wants to make drinks at home.” —Shaun Layton, Co-Owner, Como Taperia

"Co-founder of award-winning Ampersand Distilling, Jessica Schacht demystifies the art of cocktail making by showing how five bottles in your bar is all you need. With panache and sophistication, Jessica demonstrates how her simple but stylish cocktail recipes will turn anyone into an expert at-home bartender.” —Marianne Scott, author of The Distilleries of Vancouver Island

"The Five-Bottle Bar harks back to the era of at-home entertaining and the romance of a well-made cocktail at the end of a long day; Jessica captures that era perfectly and breaks down the barriers that tend to exist in the hocus pocus of modern mixology and creates a beautifully presented testament to a bygone time of sharing cocktails with friends at home.” —Shawn Soole, Lounge Manager, Clive’s Classic Lounge