Regarding Cocktails is the only book from the late Sasha Petraske, the legendary bartender who changed cocktail culture with his speakeasy-style bar Milk & Honey. Forewords by Dale DeGroff and Robert Simonson. Here are 85 cocktail recipes from his repertoire—the beloved classics and modern variations—with stories from the bartenders he personally trained.

The Cosmonaut was created by Sasha Petraske, founder of NY bar Milk & Honey. A simple 3 ingredient cocktail that is a sly retort to the well known Cosmopolit. Sasha Petraske opened Milk & Honey, a speakeasy cocktail bar in New York, in 2000. He later had ventures in New York, London, and Australia. Sasha and his bars won numerous competitions and awards. He lived in New York until his untimely death in 2015. Sasha Petraske, the visionary who founded Milk & Honey in NYC and in doing so altered the course of cocktail culture, tragically passed away at his home at the age of 42, on 20 August 2015. Sasha Petraske, who helped restore lost luster to the venerable cocktail as the founder of the New York cocktail bar Milk & Honey and other polished drinking spots around the world, was found dead.

Sasha Petraske

Regarding Cocktails ensures Sasha Petraske has the last word on his legacy in cocktail culture. By Jonathan White.

Sasha Petraske Regarding Cocktails

For the 15 years between opening the original Milk & Honey in New York in 2000 and his untimely death, Sasha Petraske was at the very forefront of the revival of cocktail culture, first in the United States and in turn around the world, with many of those who studied under him going on to great things themselves. This book, started by Petraske and finished by his widow, the spirits writer Georgette Moger-Petraske, contains 85 recipes along with their origin stories from his friends and family of former staff. On top of that, we get the thoughts of Petraske – either in his own essays or recollections from contributors such as David Wondrich – on topics as varied as ice, style, charity and cocktails for cats. The book mixes the cherished idiosyncrasies of Petraske’s character with his code for bettering both cocktails and those who serve them. Strikingly illustrated, Regarding Cocktails is as understated and classy as the man himself and while it may be intended to help the home bartender, it’s sure to become essential reading for those who make their living behind the stick.

Regarding Cocktails is published by Phaidon and available from phaidon.com.

Sasha Petraske Quotes

This story was first published in Issue 04 of DRiNK Magazine Greater Asia.