If you're looking for some inspiration behind the bar, check out these new cocktail books which feature recipes, information on spirits, and tips on crafting drinks.
The Seasonal Cocktail
The Seasonal Cocktail is a first-of-its-kind instructional cocktail guide ingrained in seasonality. The book was created by Beverage Director of Laurent Tourondel Hospitality and Co-Founder of Bar-IQ.com Jason Hedges, his business/life partner and book’s Creative Director/Illustrator Sonya Barash-Hedges, and her cousin Co-Author Philip Barash.
Inspired by the ever-changing ingredients at New York City’s Union Square Green Market, the recipe book provides a unique formula for creating delicious seasonally driven cocktails using only the freshest, local ingredients that support sustainable agricultural practices.
With over 100 seasonal drink recipes laid out in an easy-to-understand format, the cocktail book not only provides the reader with delicious recipes but also illustrates ways to build on basic cocktail family templates to capture the mood and spirit of the varying seasons. The Seasonal Cocktail acts as a manual on how to use the nature of each season and available ingredients as guiding factors in the drink-making approach.
The book dives into all four seasons and provides ample recipes for each. Some examples include:
- Spring: Casita Naranja, jalapeño and kumquat-infused mezcal and fennel syrup
- Summer: Cloud Nine featuring homemade lychee syrup
- Winter: Under the Mistletoe, cranberry and sage syrup alongside lemon juice, gin, and prosecco
“With this book, I encourage people to explore the vibrant flavors of the different times of year,” said Hedges. “From the crisp and refreshing drinks of summer to the warm and cozy concoctions of winter, it is my hope that this collection inspires cocktail fans to drink in their seasonal best.”
Modern Caribbean Rum
Modern Caribbean Rum: A Contemporary Reference to the Region’s Essential Spirit was penned by historian Matt Pietrek and Carrie Smith and is a culmination of 38 chapters covering rum making, the rum industry, and detailed looks at over 75 Caribbean rum producers.
Modern Caribbean Rum is now the only go-to resource of contemporary information on this widely popular alcohol spirit, and it is a Top 4 Finalist for the Tales 2023 Spirit Awards in the Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits category.
The book is broken down into four parts. Part one is an overview of rum, rum history, how rum is classified, and misconceptions surrounding the spirit. Part two is a deep dive into rum making, with information on source materials, fermentation, distillation, aging, blending, and flavor science. Part three focuses on the business of rum, including bulk and sourced rum, geographical indications and regulations, tariffs and subsidies, trade organizations, rum brands, and much more. Part four is a geographical exploration of twenty Caribbean rum-making regions, with in-depth profiles of over seventy rum distilleries and producers.
Signature Cocktails
Publishing this October, Signature Cocktails is a global history of iconic beverages that spans famous, eccentric, and surprising drinks across 500 years, ranging from the classic Mimosa to the Duran Duran-inspired Her Name is Rio.
Curated by New York-based cocktail connoisseur Amanda Schuster – in consultation with regional experts across the globe – Signature Cocktails is a satisfying collection of drinks, all of which are remarkable in their breadth and character.
Featuring 200 entries, each is accompanied by the name of the creator, place and date of invention, and spirit type, alongside the original recipe and a specially commissioned contemporary image of the drink. Schuster’s text provides valuable context, revealing the history, secrets, stories, and personalities behind each cocktail’s creation.
The volume is organized chronologically and traces the cocktail’s development starting with Atholl Brose of 1475 and finishing with the Phaidon 100, a signature cocktail designed to celebrate Phaidon’s 100th anniversary in 2023.
The book also features legends of the bartending scene from years past, such as Harry MacElhone and Jerry Thomas, as well as icons of the London cocktail scene including Dick Bradsell, creator of the Espresso Martini, alongside trendsetting, current creatives such as Natasha David and Aki Eguchi. A glossary at the back of the book details the glassware, bar tools, and techniques needed to recreate these bespoke drinks, while an extensive index by cocktail name, bartender, establishment, city, country, and spirit will allow the reader to find all the cocktails in the book.
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