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US Bartenders’ Guild to release first book
Liquid Legacy will chronicle the United States Bartenders’ Guild’s (USBG) first 50 years and is due out this May.
The USBG has announced the upcoming release of its first book, Liquid Legacy: A Timeless Tribute to the Founders of the United States Bartenders Guild.
The book will be a deep dive into the role bartenders have played in society and their communities, from neighbourhood organising, labour movements, and equal rights advocates, to late nights, spirits history, and the famous story of the bar that served James Dean his last drink, a glass of milk.
“While the rich history of our Guild cannot be traced back in its entirety, this collection is an amazing celebration of what was accomplished in the first 50 years,” Jose Acona, co-founder, former president, and lifetime member of the USBG, said. “If you are a bartender, you need to read this book.”
Liquid Legacy will initially be available for purchase via the Guild’s website. It will include recipes from the first 50 winners of the Guild’s national competition including Charles Berner’s 1950 win with the Bernice, a combination of vodka, Galliano, Pernod, lime and simple syrup, all the way through to the 1998 winner, Conga Line, from Jose Rusieco.
The USBG was founded in 1948, and through its network, connects members with peer-to-peer learning, expert instruction, service projects, and skills-based competition. This new book is written by Livio Lauro, an ‘influential’ member in the USBG and the founding president of the Guild’s Master Accreditation programme, a national testing body for US bartenders. Livio owns close to 400 books on mixology, hospitality, alcoholic beverages, and drinking culture.
The Guild traces its roots to early 20th century Europe where the hospitality industry took off at a rapid pace. As bar staff gathered to discuss professional matters, the International Barkeepers Union was formed in Cologne, Germany. Two world wars and Prohibition stifled the bar industry but by 1948, bartenders in California formed the first American offshoot of the UK Bartenders’ Guild. Soon after, Guild-held competitions became a breeding ground for cocktail trends.
Last month, the founders of bartending competition Speed Rack announced they were publishing their first book titled A Quick Drink: The Speed Rack Guide to Winning Cocktails for Any Mood, due out in April.