Mod Cocktails, by Natalie Jacob (Page Street Publishing, November 5, 2019) is a really chic book. It presents modern takes on cocktail recipes from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Even though the Mad Men television show craze is over, I still have lots of friends who worship mid-century design and are nostalgic for those three decades. I might slip a copy or two of this under some friends’ Christmas trees this year! Chapters are sorted into Shaken & Citrusy, Stirred & Boozy, Long & Fizzy, Icy & Swizzled, Frozen & Frosty, Frothy & Foamy, and then Punches & Party Drinks. There’s a section on syrups, and I’m excited to see a recipe for Trader Vic’s 1946 Scorpion Bowl! As you can imagine, there are recipes for Mai Tais, rum punches, something called Missionary’s Downfall, a Roman Holiday cocktail, and a Blue Hawaii. There’s mentions of tiki culture, references to mid-century design haven Palm Springs, nods to mid-century movies, and best of all, many of the drinks are photographed in charming retro glassware. This is my top pick for a cocktail book to gift for the 2019 holiday season!
Liberal Libations, by Kim Newton Arisbe (self-published, November 12, 2019). Great for hostesses and frequent entertainers, this book teaches you to transform single-serving cocktails into make-ahead batches for your parties. Besides timeless classic cocktails like margaritas, Moscow Mules and Old Fashioneds, the author included some unique original concoctions like “Summer Solstice.” I throw a lot of parties and definitely would appreciate some tips and recipes for big batches I can make up ahead of time and leave out in big pitchers on my bar!
Healthy Cocktails, by Matt Dorsey & Jenny Dorsey, Skyhorse, November 19, 2019. This cocktail book presents “easy & fun recipes for all-natural low-sugar, low-alcohol drinks.” Those drinks don’t sound very fun to me – I like high alcohol ones. But if you’re trying to indulge in a healthier way, check out this book’s recipes for reinvented classics like the Old-Fashioned, plus a blackberry smash, spritzers, a coconut water colada, a sugar free Paloma, a mint julep and a gin fizz. Now that I read through that list, I’m getting thirsty!
Measure, Shake, Pour, by Cider Mill Press, November 26, 2019. This small guide, illustrated with black-and-white illustrations, might be a nice host or hostess gift for an upcoming holiday cocktail party or dinner party you might attend this autumn or winter. Or it might be a nice 21st birthday gift for the college student in your life, or for newlyweds who might want to start entertaining in their new home. The book is intended to help you up your cocktail game, raise the bar on your bartending, and become a mixology master. Chapters include Tools of the Trade; The Spirit World; The Unsung Heroes – Ice, Simple Syrup and Bitters; Mixing; The Classics; and The Finishing Touch.
The Complete Home Bartender’s Guide, by Salvatore Calabrese (Sterling Epicure, November 5, 2019). I’m a bit “meh” about this book – the world has more than enough home bartending books. This is a previously published redesigned updated edition, and likely is a nice gift for a couple setting up their first home together or a college kid moving into his first apartment with buddies. The book covers important topics like how to chill cocktail glasses if you don’t have room in your freezer; how to make batch cocktails; how to create layers in your cocktails; and how to invent your own cocktails. Chapters include those on glassware and barware; info on types of drinks; syrups; techniques and party planning. The book continues with cocktail recipes using brandy, then gin, rum, tequila, vodka, whiskey, bourbon, rye, champagne and wine. There are chapters devoted to bitters and spirits; punches, cups and eggnogs; liqueurs; shooters; hot drinks; and something called Calabrese Classics. There’s a helpful index at the back where you can look up the cocktails by their drink names.
101 Award-Winning Cocktails, by Paul Martin (Robinson, November 19, 2019). This cocktail book presents award-winning recipes from the world’s best bartenders. Cocktail mixologist Paul Martin profiles various mixologists, interviewing them about how they came up with their drink recipes. I love that each cocktail is accompanied by a full-color photo of the drink as well as instructions on making it yourself – I don’t like books that are stingy with the photos!
Bond Cocktails, by Katherine Bebo (Ryland, Peters & Small, November 12, 2019). Here’s a book that presents “Over 20 cocktail recipes for the secret agent in all of us.” I run a James Bond movie-viewing club here at my home, and I hope one of my club members takes it upon themselves to buy this book for me (hint, hint!) The cocktail recipes inside are sorted thematically by movie: Live and Let Drink; From Russia with Love, Jaws – Beverages with Bite; Skyfall Highballs; and Oddjob: One-Offs. There’s recipes for classics like Mojitos a Sazerac, and a Vodka martini. Probably not the most sophisticated cocktail book of all time – the drinks and photos are simplistic – but what a great slim volume to give a Bond fan as a holiday gift!
Garden to Glass, by Mike Wolf (Turner; November 12, 2019) is part gardening manual, part cocktail cookbook. It’s a guide to growing your drinks from the ground up. Chapters include foraging for drink ingredients; utilizing vegetables in your cocktails; sourcing your ingredients locally; and making the most of your terroir. The cocktails portion of the book continues with info on syrups, cordials and bitters; using smoke and flame for cocktail flavors; cocktail presentation; and preserving your cocktail ingredients for winter. Sounds like a lot of work!
Happy cocktail book browsing!
-Carrie
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