The Dead Rabbit Drinks Manual: Secret Recipes and Barroom Tales from Two Belfast Boys Who Conquered the Cocktail World

Winner of the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for Best New Cocktail & Bartending Book

Dead Rabbit Grocery & Grog in Lower Manhattan has dominated the bar industry, receiving award after award including World’s Best Bar, World’s Best Cocktail Menu, World’s Best Drink Selection, and Best American Cocktail Bar. Now, the critically acclaimed bar has its first cocktail book, The Dead Rabbit Drinks Manual, which, along with its inventive cocktail recipes, also details founder Sean Muldoon and bar manager Jack McGarry’s inspiring rags-to-riches story that began in Ireland and has brought them to the top of the cocktail world. Like the bar’s décor, Dead Rabbit’s award-winning drinks are a nod to the “Gangs of New York” era. They range from fizzes to cobblers to toddies, a collection of classic cocktails each with its own historical inspiration. There are also recipes for communal punches as well as an entire chapter on absinthe. Along with the recipes and their photos, this stylish and handsome book includes photographs from the bar itself so readers are able to take a peek into the classic world of Dead Rabbit.

This is more than a recipe book―it’s a portal to another era.

• Historical Cocktails: Discover dozens of recipes from fizzes to toddies, all inspired by the notorious "Gangs of New York" era of the 19th century.
• Punch Recipes: Master communal punches perfect for any gathering, drawn from the Dead Rabbit’s award-winning menu.
• An Inspiring Rags-to-Riches Story: Go behind the scenes with founders Sean Muldoon and Jack McGarry on their incredible journey from Ireland to the top of the cocktail world.
• A Chapter on Absinthe: Delve into the history and methods behind the Green Fairy with a full chapter dedicated to absinthe cocktails and service.

SEAN MULDOON is the cofounder and managing partner of the Dead Rabbit in New York City, and formerly the bar manager of the Merchant Hotel in Belfast. The Merchant was declared “World’s Best Cocktail Bar” in 2010 at Tales of the Cocktail, and the Dead Rabbit won three awards at Tales of the Cocktail 2013, including “World’s Best New Cocktail Bar.” In 2014, the Dead Rabbit won two further awards at the event, including “Best American Cocktail Bar.” The Dead Rabbit is the expression of Sean’s lifelong dream to combine sophisticated cocktail service with the rich tradition of the Anglo-Hibernian pub.

In his role as bar manager at both the Dead Rabbit and the Merchant Hotel, JACK McGARRY became internationally known for his extensive historically-based beverage programs. For each project, Jack thoroughly tested thousands of recipes from scores of cocktail books from the mid-nineteenth century, which sometimes involved making 50 to 70 versions of a single drink before one was deemed the best. In July 2013, Jack was honored with the prestigious Tales of the Cocktail "International Bartender of the Year" award, making him the youngest-ever recipient and only the second in America.

BEN SCHAFFER has been “the voice” of the Dead Rabbit since even before its launch, writing all its promotional materials, including advertising, website, and social media. In November 2012, Ben co-founded the consulting firm The Best Bar in the World with Sean Muldoon and Jack McGarry to offer their hospitality expertise worldwide. Based in New York City, he works as a writer, creative director, and consultant for companies in many industries, including beverages, finance, and the not-for-profit sector.