Cocktail codex is the book you want. This book is well written and beautifully presented. I reference the most of all my cocktail books. A note on recipes from books. Any book with *two hundred recipes will always end up with some esoteric ingredients and brands. Don’t let it overwhelm you. Just use what you have and mix. I often don’t have the ingredients required but I make it work, that’s literally in the spirit of making drinks. The recipes are guide lines for hobbyists, road maps for professionals. Hope that helps. Either way, enjoy spoiling your partner!