Front cover of The Madrusan Cocktail Companion by Zara Madrusan, hardback

The Madrusan Cocktail Companion : Every drink worth drinking in the history of modern + classic cocktails | 2800+ cocktails with contributions from 100 of the world's best bartenders - Michael Madrusan

Michael Madrusan

£35.00
  • Pages · 544 pages
  • Publication Date · 30/09/2025
  • Genre · Spirits & cocktails
Collect in store Pick it up free from the shop in Oxford's Covered Market, usually quicker than the post.
Delivery Standard tracked £1.99, free on orders over £20. Express tracked £2.99.
Book Lovers' Happy Hour Three cocktails matched to your taste, three books chosen for you, an hour and a half at the bar. £60 per person. Book a place →

Welcome to The Madrusan Cocktail Companion, the impeccably comprehensive one-stop guide to classic drinks from every era, plus the best modern cocktails, curated by oracle Michael Madrusan with contributions from world-leading bartenders. Expanded from an in-house manual conceived and curated by Michael as the go-to resource for teams at his acclaimed bars, and shared by the professional drinks community as a treasured educational resource, it includes more than 2800 drinks - tried, tested and updated for the modern palate. Michael and Zara Madrusan draw on their own extensive library of books that date back to 1862 to present the stories behind the cocktail canon, alongside all the best variations, categorised by origin and by ingredient, and with an emphasis on readily available products and minimal preparation. Whether it's every imaginable twist on the Martini in the past 100 years, Sours, Bucks and Flips for all tastes, or aperitivo-style and non-alcoholic options, every drink worth knowing about is here. Including an insider's guide to home bar excellence, and jovial toasts and quotes from history's most influential bartenders, The Madrusan Cocktail Companion is a spectacular compendium for the new age of drinking discernment. Includes the origin and story behind the key cocktails, essential know-how for home bartenders, imperial and metric measurements, and stunning photography in a spectacular hardback package - complete with dual ribbons and sprayed edges. 'Truly comprehensive, forward-looking and historically informed. A perfect monument to the best of what the 21st-century cocktail revolution has achieved.' David Wondrich, Author, Imbibe
'Michael and Zara have compiled the definitive ark of our generation: a glamorous time capsule of mixology. An instant classic.' Jim Meehan, Author, Meehan's Bartender Manual 'Sharp, structured and grounded. More than a manual, this is a manifesto. If you plan to take this work seriously, start here.' Jeffery Morgenthaler, Author, The Bar Book: Elements of Cocktail Technique 'Michael Madrusan is one of the world's foremost experts on classic and forgotten cocktails. A must for every level of cocktail enthusiast.' Sam Ross, Owner/Operator, Attaboy, NYC and Nashville
'The true power of Michael and Zara's opus lies between these recipes: the ideas, people and stories that explain the why behind the tiny cups of cold booze we call cocktails.' Alex Day, Co-Author, Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails

Only at Gulp Fiction

Book Lovers' Happy Hour

An hour and a half at the bar, with three cocktails matched to your taste and three books chosen for you. Tell us what you like when you book, and we'll have them waiting when you arrive.

  • 1½ hours
  • £60 per person
  • 3 cocktails, 3 books
Book Happy Hour

Up to four of you can come — book a place each and choose the same time slot, then tell us who you're with. For larger groups, email gulpfictionbooks@gmail.com and we'll arrange it.

Three customers at the window table in Gulp Fiction, cocktails in hand beside a stack of books, with Oxford's Covered Market visible through the glass

Collect in store

Order online and pick it up from the shop. It's free, and usually quicker than the post.

Find us

Units 28–29, Covered Market, Oxford OX1 3DU. Mon–Wed 10–5, Thu–Sat 10–10, Sun 11–4.

Book a table

The bar is open late Thursday to Saturday. Reserve a table for a drink among the books.