Time for our quarterly round up of new books. Plenty of titles to please eeryone from beerlovers to spirits and cocktails enthusiasts!
Chicago Beer: A History of Brewing, Public Drinking and the Corner Bar (American Palate) by June Skinner Sawyers The History Press (March 21, 2022) Long before corner bars stitched the social fabric of Chicago’s neighborhoods together, raucous pioneers like Mark Beaubien were fermenting over the untapped potential of the unbroken prairie. Take a determined saunter from the clamor of Chicago’s first breweries, through the hidden passages of thousands of speakeasies and then back into the current of the contemporary craft beer revival. Follow a path plastered with portraits of infamous saloonkeepers and profiles of historic bars. Author June Sawyers serves as an expert guide, stopping every so often to collect a vintage beer label, explain an original recipe or salute the heady history that sits atop the City of Big Shoulders.
Sammy Hagar’s Cocktail Hits: 85 Personal Favorites from the Red Rocker by Sammy Hagar (Author), James O. Fraioli (Author), Guy Fieri (Foreword) Skyhorse (March 29, 2022) Sammy Hagar may be best known as the former frontman of the iconic band Van Halen. His fans know him as the Red Rocker and as the songwriter behind hits like “I Can’t Drive 55,” “Right Now,” and “Why Can’t This Be Love.” However, music is just one of his passions. Sammy is a businessman, a connoisseur of great cocktails, and the creator of Cabo Wabo Tequila, Sammy’s Beach Bar Rums, and—along with his good friend and celebrity restaurateur Guy Fieri—a line of Santo Tequilas and Mezquila. He created Cabo Wabo Cantinas and Sammy’s Beach Bar & Grills so people could hang out with their friends and families, have a few drinks, laugh, and enjoy the good times and unique cultures of the places he enjoys most—and the recipes in Sammy’s Cocktail Hits: 85 Personal Favorites from the Red Rocker reflect those differences.
Claridge’s – The Cocktail Book: More than 500 Cocktail Recipes for Every Occasion by Claridge’s Mitchell Beazley (April 5, 2022) This glorious guide contains all the inspiration you’ll need for the cocktail hour, with a spirited – and no/low – selection of more than 500 recipes suitable for every occasion. Whatever your tastes and wherever your location, this new bartender’s bible will enable you to share the magic of Claridge’s with family and friends, from your own cocktail cabinet. Co-authored by Denis Broci (Director of Bars) and Nathan McCarley-O’Neill (Director of Mixology), this handsome volume encompasses classics from every period in Claridge’s history, new inventions that reflect the evolution of the art of drink-making and drinks of every style from every elegant space within this grand institution. Whether you prefer something sparkling, sweet, stirred, complex, sharp, refreshing, bracing or sour, an inviting glass awaits.
The Weird and Wonderful Story of Gin: From the 17th Century to the Present Day by Angela Youngman Pen and Sword History (April 6, 2022) Gin is a global alcoholic drink that has polarized opinion like no other, and its history has been a roller coaster, alternating between being immensely popular and utterly unfashionable. The Weird and Wonderful Story of Gin explores the exciting, interesting and downright curious aspects of the drink, with crime, murder, poisons, fires, dramatic accidents, artists, legends and disasters all playing a part. These dark themes are also frequently used to promote brands and drinks.Did you know that the Filipinos are the world’s biggest gin drinkers? And even that Jack the Ripper, Al Capone and the Krays all have their place in the history of gin? Not to mention Sir Winston Churchill, Noel Coward, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and James Bond!
Rum Rebels: A Celebration of Women Revolutionizing the Spirits Industry, with Cocktail Recipes by Martyna Halas (Author), René van Hoven (Author) Yellow Pear Press (April 12, 2022) Once known as a sailor’s drink, rum has matured into a refined spirit. In some Caribbean countries, rum is offered as a libation to the gods. In others, it is aged and savored on the rocks. But in the most magical places, rum is distilled by women. Inside Rum Rebels, you’ll find personal anecdotes from master blenders, fabulous recipes for artisan rum cocktails, and the inside scoop on the magic behind Appleton, Zacapa, Cachaça Maria Izabel, Brugal, and more. The art of cocktails, rum, and women. A pirate staple, rum has been the drink of rebels since the Old World. Now, there’s a new generation of rebels—the business women curating the taste of today’s best rum companies. Part rum cocktail book, part ode to feminism, Rum Rebels is a story of female empowerment in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Looking at more than a dozen rum distilleries, each chapter of Rum Rebels profiles women in leadership, their rum, and the perfect cocktail pairing. Learn how rum is made. Alongside women leaders and pioneers, this worldwide master class explores everything from palates to aging, providing first-hand stories from today’s leading rum distilleries. Whether a beginner or a seasoned rum enthusiast, Rum Rebels is the perfect read for anyone curious about the craft of rum distilling, artisan cocktails, or female leaders in history.
Texas Cocktails: The Second Edition: An Elegant Collection of Over 100 Recipes Inspired by the Lone Star State (City Cocktails) by Nico Martini Cider Mill Press (April 12, 2022) From big city lounges to dusty roadside dives, delve into the Texas drinks scene with this newly expanded and updated edition of the best-selling Texas Cocktails, 2nd Edition. With over 100 recipes and dozens of profiles of bartenders, drink like a Texan, whether you’re just visiting or entertaining at home. Locals and tourists alike will discover new watering holes that are sure to satisfy tastes as varied as Texas is large. Far more than just a recipe book, Texas Cocktails, 2nd Edition features signature creations by the best mixologists from Houston to El Paso, and everywhere in between.
Beer Stained Pulp: A Collection of Nicely Designed British Beer Mats from the Past by Adam Kimberley Unicorn Publishing Group (April 13, 2022) Beer Stained Pulp is a massive hit of nostalgia that will have readers reminiscing about late nights at the pub, yearning for long-gone breweries, recalling weird and wonderful advertising campaigns, and commemorating moments in British culture. Those handy little beer mats on the bar top not only catch your spills—they also catch your eye. A wonderful source of creative inspiration, vintage beer mats are beautiful examples of composition, typography, illustration, and graphic design. Showcasing eighty nicely designed vintage British beer mats in full color, this book will have readers appreciating these little masterpieces for what they truly are.
Booze & Vinyl Vol. 2: 70 More Albums + 140 New Recipes by André Darlington (Author), Tenaya Darlington (Author) Running Press Adult (April 19, 2022) A follow-up to the bestselling listening party guide, Booze & Vinyl, this is an all-new collection of groundbreaking music paired with mood-setting cocktails. Get set to party with 70 great records—organized by theme, from Rockin’ to Beats, Mellow to Jazzy & Bluesy—spanning the 1950s to today. Each entry features liner notes on the album and two accompanying boozy beverage recipes that complement the music. Among the featured albums are: Are You Experienced? (The Jimi Hendrix Experience), Toys in the Attic (Aerosmith), Synchronicity (The Police), Jagged Little Pill (Alanis Morisette), The B52s (The B52s ), Gipsy Kings (The Gipsy Kings), Violator (Depeche Mode), Ready to Die (The Notorious B.I.G.), Play (Moby), Lemonade (Beyoncé), Coat of Many Colors (Dolly Parton), Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Elton John), So (Peter Gabriel), Whitney Houston (Whitney Houston), Oops!…I Did it Again (Britney Spears), Getz/Gilberto (Stan Getz and João Gilberto), A Love Supreme (John Coltrane).
The Philosophy of Whisky (British Library Philosophy of series) by Billy Abbott British Library Publishing (May 1, 2022) From illicit distillation to worldwide export, whisky has a powerful and multi-faceted history. Writers including Robert Burns, James Joyce and Haruki Murakami have all mused on it, and there are strong opinions on every aspect, even down to how the word itself should be spelled. A staple of the classic cocktail, whisky is at the heart of diverse cultures around the globe, both in the established whisky traditions of Scotland and Ireland and in newer practices, such as the first Swedish malt whisky distillery, Mackmyra, opened in 1999. This book will take you to whisky landmarks all over the world, including the record-breaking Karuizawa distillery in Japan and Kavalan, the distillery that put Taiwanese whisky on the map. Get to grips with the four key ingredients – grain, wood, yeast and time – then learn how to taste whisky like a pro, from glassware to cocktails, and become a part of the international whisky family.
Whisky: The Manual: 102 Whiskies, 5 Ways by Dave Broom Mitchell Beazley (May 3, 2022) This highly accessible and enjoyable guide is full of practical and fascinating information about how to enjoy whisky. All whisky styles are covered, including (just whisper it) blends. Along the way a good few myths are exploded, including the idea that whisky has to be taken neat. In ‘What to Drink’, Dave Broom explores flavor camps – how to understand a style of whisky and – moves on to provide extensive tasting notes of the major brands, demonstrating whisky’s extraordinary diversity. In ‘How to Drink’, he sets out how to enjoy whisky in myriad ways – using water and mixers, from soda to green tea; and in cocktails, from the Manhattan to the Rusty Nail. He even looks at pairing whisky and food. In this spirited, entertaining, and no-nonsense guide, world-renowned expert Dave Broom dispels the mysteries of whisky and unlocks a whole host of exciting possibilities for this magical drink.
The Art of Whisky by Ernie Button Chronicle Books (May 10, 2022) The Art of Whisky is a breathtaking and unusual gift book for whisky connoisseurs, celebrating the spirit from an unexpectedly beautiful angle. By chance, award-winning photographer Ernie Button noticed the intricate patterns formed in the residue at the bottoms of (almost) empty whisky glasses—each as different as a snowflake—and began photographing them with inventive lighting techniques. The resulting images are exquisitely gorgeous, evoking earthly landscapes and extraterrestrial visions. This book collects nearly 100 of those photos—each one more amazing than the last—and features delightful touches such as tasting notes, information on the science of what we’re seeing, and writing about single malt Scotch by Scotland’s leading whisky expert Charles MacLean, commissioned exclusively for this book. The captivating photographs begin with the qualities that make single malt scotch so exquisite, get an assist from the natural wonder of fluid dynamics, and a finish of artful production that makes each unique and surprising. Princeton University Professor Howard A. Stone, who has studied and published on the science behind Button’s Vanishing Spirits photographs, contributes a text on the science of what we see. Renowned whisky expert and author Charles MacLean writes here on the unique qualities of single malt scotch and contributes notes about the special aspects of Scotland’s whisky-producing regions.
Exploring the World of Japanese Craft Sake: Rice, Water, Earth by Nancy Matsumoto (Author), Michael Tremblay (Author), John Gauntner (Foreword) Tuttle Publishing (May 10, 2022) Whether you’re a sake novice or an experienced connoisseur, Exploring the World of Japanese Craft Sake offers fascinating insights, practical tips, and rich stories about this popular beverage. Authors and experts Nancy Matsumoto and Michael Tremblay personally undertook the challenge of visiting 35 artisanal sake breweries in Japan, the US, and Canada to interview makers and document every stage of the sake brewing process. Nancy’s celebrated journalistic background combined with Michael’s sake sommelier experience have led to an engaging and informative look at the world of sake. This book also includes personal recipes from several top Japanese sake-brewing families along with food-pairing tips and a chapter on the authors’ own Japanese sake-bar-going adventures.
Wild Brews: The craft of home brewing, from sour and fruit beers to farmhouse ales by Jaega Wise Kyle Books (June 28, 2022) Produced using a mixture of naturally occurring yeasts and bacteria, wild fermented beers offer the ‘fine dining’ of the beer world. These beers are how beer tasted 200 years ago, before brewing was industrialized, and are enjoying a worldwide revival. Jaega Wise, head brewer at East London’s Wild Card Brewery, is one of the UK’s experts in wild fermentation. Here, she explains the science behind the brewing process and shares her recipes so that you can experiment at home. Learn how to brew, bottle, and age your beer in wooden barrels, and produce a range of different sour beer styles, farmhouse ales and fruit beers. Also included is a trouble-shooter section to guide you through what happens when wild yeast and bacteria get out of control and how to remedy it. Whether you are a beer geek or a home brewing novice, Wild Brews contains everything you need to replicate today’s sour and wild beer styles at home.
The Spirits: A Guide to Modern Cocktailing by Richard Godwin Square Peg (June 1, 2022) Want to master the art of mixology from home? Of all the skills you might acquire in life, the ability to make a good cocktail will never be a waste of time. In this classic guide to cocktailing, writer, columnist and founder of The Spirits newsletter – “a book club but for cocktails” – Richard Godwin offers over X delicious, inventive and accessible recipes. Beautifully written, laugh-out-loud funny and full of practical good sense as well as fascinating historical snippets, this little book contains everything that an amateur needs to up their cocktailing game – and increase the sum of human happiness.
Drink Like a Local New York: A Field Guide to New York’s Best Bars by Amanda Schuster Cider Mill Press (June 7, 2022) Anyone can claim to know their way around the New York bar scene, but it takes a true local to find those hidden gems that embody the spirit of Gotham. Featuring 50 bar profiles highlighting bartenders, memorabilia, and the bustling history of the New York bar scene, including Prohibition-era cocktails sure to stun, you’ll find yourself right at home with Drink Like a Local New York. With recipes from timeless locations and profiles on some of the best bartenders you’ve never heard of, you’ll never find yourself without a drink in the Big Apple. Beautifully illustrated pages showcase the heart of each location, and you will feel like you’re really there long before you order your first drink. This is the perfect gift for New York natives and lovers alike.
Drink Like a Local Miami: The Insider’s Guide to South Beach and the Magic City by Gabriel Urrutia Cider Mill Press (June 7, 2022) Featuring 50 bar profiles highlighting bartenders, memorabilia, and slice-of-life history about the Miami bar scene, you’ll find yourself right at home with Drink Like a Local Miami. While anyone can find a high-profile bar in Miami, it takes an expert to discover the hidden drinking gems in the city. Featuring 50 bar profiles highlighting bartenders, memorabilia, and slice-of-life history about the Miami bar scene, you’ll find yourself right at home with Drink Like a Local Miami.With recipes from timeless locations and profiles on some of the best bartenders you’ve never heard of, you’ll never find yourself at a loss for your next drink with this book at your side. Beautifully illustrated pages showcase the heart of each location. You’ll feel like you’re really there long before you order your first drink. This is the definitive gift for Miami natives and lovers alike.
Wild Drinks: The new old world of small-batch brews, ferments and infusions by Sharon Flynn Hardie Grant (June 7, 2022) Wild Drinks is the definitive book on infusing, brewing and fermenting delicious and often nutritious things to drink, from mead to kombucha to cider to kvass. With the entertaining and assuring voice of fermentation expert Sharon Flynn, it is a perfect jumping off point for anyone who is curious to learn more about this magical and witchy world. Across six chapters, Wild Drinks features more than 60 recipes. Learn the basics of wild fermentation and read about the equipment you need to start your fermentation journey. Discover drinks made from grain, including doburoku (farmhouse sake), wild beer and kvass; explore recipes for wild apple cider, country wine and wild soda; try water kefir, kombucha, ginger beer and fruit vinegars, and come to understand the art of imparting flavor, from shrubs to flavored waters to syrups and liqueurs. And in the spirit of reducing waste, the final chapter shows how to use fermentation byproducts – ranging from crackers made from sake lees to kimchi pancakes, nettle risotto and Basque cider chicken. Recipes include fascinating historical context and quick tips, and Sharon considers the traditions associated with these ancient fermentation practices too.
Make it a Double: From Wretched to Wondrous: Tales of One Woman’s Lifelong Discovery of Whisky by Shelley Sackier Pegasus Books (June 7, 2022) Braving the “all boys” clubhouse of the world of whisky has not been easy, but Shelley Sackier has managed to do just that out of her love for the drink. By turns funny and poignant and filled with vivid insight into this ancient craft, Make it a Double will persuade even a teetotaler to want a wee dram. As a woman whose first sip of whisky created the female doppelganger of a Mr. Yuk sticker, that experience produced a sharp realization that the liquid was foul, poisonous, and needlessly dirtied a previously clean glass. And then she met Scotland. Her curiosity and growing passion lit a fire—igniting a desire to learn more about this craft’s rich and vivid history and the need to break out of an old life and to become the mother, partner, and woman she has always sought to be. After completing a course in Scotland’s famed Bruichladdich Distillery, Shelley begins her path of writing about—and working within—the world of whisky. There has never been a better time for Shelley’s inimitable voice to shed light on this intoxicating realm. Women are not only impressively contributing to the burgeoning sales of the spirit—making up nearly 40% of the whiskey-drinking population in the United States—but they are also growing in number as they enter in to, train within, and lead the industry with their determined creativity and innovation. In the tradition of Blood, Bones, and Butter, Make it a Double establishes Shelley Sackier as a fresh new voice in the lush world of culinary narrative.
Caesar Country: Cocktails, Clams & Canada by Aaron Harowitz (Author), Zack Silverman (Author) Appetite by Random House (June 7, 2022) In this stunning book, Aaron Harowitz and Zack Silverman—co-founders of Walter Craft Caesar—take you on a deep and detailed dive through the art and science of Caesar making. They share a compelling collection of cocktail and food recipes, including contributions from some of Canada’s top bartenders and chefs, showcasing the countless ways to reinterpret the classic Caesar. Caesar Country is inspired by travels across Canada—the people met, places seen, drinks enjoyed—and seamlessly weaves together the Caesar’s history, evolution,and the innovators behind it, to create a visual and culinary celebration of the country it calls home.
Black Mixcellence: A Comprehensive Guide to Black Mixology by Tamika Hall (Author), Colin Asare-Appiah (Author) Kingston Imperial (June 7, 2022) Black Mixcellence: A Comprehensive Guide to Black Mixology is a tribute to the contributions of Black and Brown mixologists to the spirits and mixology industries. Many pivotal events in the history of mixology have been ushered in by the contributions of African-American men and women. These moments have opened doors and laid the foundation for brands and companies to flourish. This book features stories about some of the industry’s most notable trailblazers. Whether it was entrepreneurship, education or a “famous first,” the featured mixologists have all contributed to the industry to make an impact in their own ways. This collective of mixologists and their signature cocktails represent different parts of the globe. There will be connections to important inventions and milestone moments by African Americans in the bartending industry weaved in between their stories.
The Bartender’s Manifesto: How to Think, Drink, and Create Cocktails Like a Pro by Toby Maloney (Author), Emma Janzen (Author), The Bartenders of The Violet Hour (Author) Clarkson Potter (June 14, 2022) Offering a foundational approach to cocktails, this manual from a James Beard Award-winning trailblazer will have you understanding and creating original drinks like a seasoned barkeep. Take a raucous romp through the essential stages of fashioning cocktails and learn the hows and whys of bartending with acclaimed mixologist Toby Maloney and the team from The Violet Hour. When the pioneering cocktail bar opened in Chicago in 2007, it set a high standard with an innovative training program that teaches not just how to replicate classic cocktail recipes flawlessly, but how to embrace ingenuity, make smart decisions, and create original, inspired recipes from rote. Like cooks who can peer into their pantry and whip up dinner on the fly, no recipe needed, those who follow the methods in The Bartender’s Manifesto will have the technical foundation and confidence to take their cocktail skills to the next level and fabricate a drink from any ingredients at hand. First, dive deep into the mechanics of creating cocktails with the right balance, texture, aroma, and temperature. From there, Toby goes well beyond the fine-tuned mechanics of the craft, covering how to kickstart the creative process and bring professional-level complexity and sophistication to drinks. Additional essays offer insider intel on how to offer top-notch hospitality (at the bar and at home), find comfort in the everyday rituals of the craft, and spark surprise and curiosity in the process. With detailed insights into The Violet Hour’s greatest recipes, expert tips from bar alumni, and helpful step-by-step illustrations and photographs, readers will come away with a deeper understanding of what makes the bar’s training program so legendary, plus the superpower of creating imaginative cocktails that reflect their personal style and creativity.
Alchemy in a Glass: The Essential Guide to Handcrafted Cocktails by Greg Seider (Rizzoli) A true cocktail guide with lots of lovely photographs of seductive libations, this book is a testament to the tenacity and vision of one of NYC’s great bartenders. I would say “Mixologist”, but the author would probably take umbrage with that title. In any case, Greg writes his cocktailian autobiography here through recipes which have permeated his consciousness over the years, and inspired altogether new creations. His modus operandi is much the same as mine. Start with a classic recipe, and then use it as the foundation to make something entirely new. Many of his original recipes call for bespoke syrups, infusions and bitters, but he generously shares all the necessary information on how to recreate them at home. The book is rounded out with a list of recommended spirits and a bit on mixing technique. If nothing else, this book is a snapshot of how cocktails can rise above simply being a means of delivering alcohol to a thirsty customer. GSN Rating: A-
The Dead Rabbit Mixed Drinks List (2nd Edition) If you think it’s crazy to buy a cocktail menu that doesn’t contain any actual recipes, you’d be dead wrong. This completely new volume indeed highlights many of the featured cocktails you can order at NYC’s triple Spirited Award winning bar. But, it’s oh so much more than that. You get a short graphic novel about the life of John Morrissey, the original leader of Ireland’s Dead Rabbit gang, and an alcoholic history lesson. Entirely two-thirds of the book is devoted to the amazing success story of Irish Whiskey written by award-winning spirits author, Dave Broom. Lastly, and the icing on the cake as it were, is an essay by Barry Crockett, master distiller of Midleton Distillery where many of the fine whiskies are made today. GSN Rating: A- Buy a copy 
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