Illustration of different cocktails. Credit: Beach vector created by macrovector (www.freepik.com)
If I take social media seriously, there are two extremes of behavior for people in long-term quarantine: the person who hacks their diet and gets insanely fit and the person who let’s it all go. I’m somewhere in between — trying to eat well, but not exercising as much as I used to. While some people are experimenting with yeast and bread baking, I’ve been experimenting with cocktails.
I picked up a new book a couple of months ago and it’s become my favorite go-to for Friday night drinks. It’s also influenced how I stock my bar — I rarely drank rum, preferring bourbon, whiskey, mezcal, and tequila, but am now enjoying rum-based drinks and have five or six types of rum on hand.
Tiki: Modern Tropical Cocktails (2019)
by Shannon Mustipher
This is not a beginners book, but it is a fantastic introduction to rum-based, tiki-style cocktails.
The first chapter starts with simple recipes using ingredients you likely have in your bar or fridge.
It then moves on to more complicated recipes that require different varieties of rums and mixers, like: rhum agricole, allspice (pimento) dram, Suze, and Falernum.
The final chapters use ingredients that you’ll need to make yourself from the included recipes, including: avocado oil washed tequila, smoked tea vodka, and Don’s mix.
Favorite Drink: Isla de Piña – white rum, pineapple liqueur, pimento dram, passion fruit puree, and lime juice.
The results are 100% worth the effort!
Mezcal: The History, Craft & Cocktails of the World's Ultimate Artisanal Spirit (2017)
by Emma Janzen
If you like tequila or mezcal, this is a great book to have. It’s not only full of interesting recipes, but also includes a ton of information on the history and culture of mezcal.
This book also has a good mix of recipes using ingredients you are likely to have, or are easy to buy at your local liquor store, combined with recipes that require more effort – both in sourcing the ingredients or in making them yourself, mostly juices and purees.
I’m a huge fan of mezcal, so this book is one of my favorites.
Favorite Drink: Oaxaca Old Fashioned – reposado tequila, mezcal, agave nectar, and angostura bitters.
Meehan's Bartender Manual (2017)
by Jim Meehan
This is a comprehensive guide to bartending from one of the industry’s most respected experts that includes an incredible wealth of information about modern bartending and mixology, spirits and their history, and insights from other industry experts.
Most importantly there are over 100 beautifully photographed cocktail recipes that cover the standards along with author’s variations on classics.
Favorite Drink: Sidecar – VSOP cognac, lemon juice, Cointreau, and simple syrup.
What are your favorite cocktail books or recipes?