Alcademics

I haven't done a new books post yet this year, so there are almost 30 of them. 

As usual, the write-ups are from the publishers and are not reviews by me. 

I have purchase links to Bookshop, which supports independent bookstores, as well as Amazon, which does not. If you'd like to just view them all on Bookshop, I made this store.

 

 

 

Zero Proof: 90 Non-Alcoholic Recipes for Mindful Drinking by Elva Ramirez [amazon] [bookshop]

90 spirit-free cocktail recipes from leading and lauded mixologists across the country

More than 100 years after Prohibition was enacted, bartenders are actually excited about people not drinking again. From Dry January and alcohol-free bars opening around the country to people interested in abstaining from drinking for better health, the no-proof movement is one of today's fastest-growing lifestyle choices, as consumers become more mindful and re-examine their relationship to alcohol. The no-proof drinker could be anyone, and even traditional bars have taken note with no-alcohol offerings. What do the world's most talented bartenders concoct when they can't use booze? This book answers that question with 90 lush and sophisticated recipes that take the craft to new heights. Veteran reporter Elva Ramirez interviewed the biggest names in cocktails and collected recipes for vibrant no-proof drinks from the world's top bars in Paris, London, and New York. This is the start of a new era in no-proof drinking.

Find recipes from renowned bars all over the world, including Death & Co in Denver and NYC, Employees Only, The Aviary NYC, Broken Shaker in LA, Everleaf Drinks in London, Little Red Door in Paris, and many more.

 

Summer Cocktails: Refreshing Margaritas, Mimosas, and Daiquiris―and the World’s Best Gin and Tonic by Nick Mautone [amazon] [bookshop]

COOL DRINKS FOR HOT SUMMER DAYS

With their thirst-quenching profile, crisp acidity, and vibrant fruit flavors, juicy summer cocktails are pure refreshment and just what we crave, whether lounging poolside or working the grill. And here, from expert mixologist and hospitality maven Nick Mautone, are over 45 no-fail recipes for the very best of them, from classics like the piña colada and the Tom Collins to the perfect margarita and a killer mojito.

Includes cocktails with wine, like peach sangria, and even fruit-forward alcohol-free cocktails like virgin watermelon punch. Oh, and that world’s best gin and tonic? The secret is ginger syrup.

 

 

Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for the Golden Age of Agave by Robert Simonson [amazon][bookshop]

Indulge your thirst for new ways to enjoy tequila and mezcal with 60+ recipes for agave cocktails from a James Beard Award–nominated author and New York Times spirits writer.

From riffs on classics such as the Mezcal Mule and Oaxaca Old-Fashioned to new favorites such as Naked and Famous or Smoke and Ice, discover how to use mezcal and tequila to create cocktails in nearly every classic cocktail formula—from flip to sour to highball—that highlight the smoky, edgy flavors of these unique and popular spirits.

Robert Simonson, author of The Old-Fashioned and The Martini Cocktail, covers a broad range of flavors with doable, delicious recipes that are easy to assemble, most only requiring three or four ingredients. This comprehensive, straightforward guide is perfect for tequila and mezcal enthusiasts looking for creative ways to enjoy agave spirits more often and in more varied ways—or for anyone who just likes to drink the stuff.

 

The Cocktail Seminars by Brian D. Hoefling [amazon][bookshop]

As a senior at Yale, Brian Hoefling realized that his classmates were about to enter the real world with an imperfect knowledge of how to prepare and enjoy cocktails. To remedy this dangerous deficiency, he devised and taught The Cocktail Seminars.

In his subsequent career as a cocktail teacher and writer, Hoefling has developed and refined The Cocktail Seminars into the present book. Each of the five seminars herein (from beginner to advanced) covers thirty different drinks, which are arranged so as to progressively introduce the ingredients and techniques of mixology, as well as its eventful history. In each seminar, an exercise and examination challenges readers to apply what they've learned to the creation of new and variant drinks.

Hoefling's seminars are founded on the principle that all cocktails consist of a base spirit modified in certain fundamental ways, such as sweetening, souring, bittering, aromatizing, aerating, lengthening, and thickening. Each cocktail is illustrated by a color-coded wheel that shows how the base spirit is modified by the other ingredients.

Those who are less serious about their cocktail education may also consult The Cocktail Seminars for drink recipes as needed, or display this handsome volume, bound in faux leather, on their bar cart--but they are only robbing themselves of a brighter future through the gift of education. The Cocktail Seminars will make an excellent gift for all but teetotalers.

 

The Japanese Art of the Cocktail by Masahiro Urushido and Michael Anstendig [amazon][bookshop]

The first cocktail book from the award-winning mixologist Masahiro Urushido of Katana Kitten in New York City, on the craft of Japanese cocktail making

Katana Kitten, one of the world’s most prominent and acclaimed Japanese cocktail bars, was opened in 2018 by highly-respected and award-winning mixologist Masahiro Urushido. Just one year later, the bar won 2019 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Award for Best New American Cocktail Bar. Before Katana Kitten, Urushido honed his craft over several years behind the bar of award-winning eatery Saxon+Parole. In The Japanese Art of the Cocktail, Urushido shares his immense knowledge of Japanese cocktails with eighty recipes that best exemplify Japan’s contribution to the cocktail scene, both from his own bar and from Japanese mixologists worldwide. Urushido delves into what exactly constitutes the Japanese approach to cocktails, and demystifies the techniques that have been handed down over generations, all captured in stunning photography.

 

Cocktail Dive Bar: Real Drinks, Fake History, and Questionable Advice from New Orleans's Twelve Mile Limit by T. Cole Newton [amazon][bookshop]

Dive deep into the world of cocktail lore, classic recipes, and hard-won wisdom in Cocktail Dive Bar: Real Drinks, Fake History, and Questionable Advice from New Orleans's Twelve Mile Limit.

In this irreverent and engaging guide T. Cole Newton, the owner and proprietor of the beloved Louisiana bar Twelve Mile Limit, brings classic and original cocktail recipes to life with a combination of colorful invented histories and real stories, alongside advice drawn from his experience as a young bar owner in the Crescent City.

Lively tongue-in-cheek mini-essays on a range of topics (including such illuminating takes as why the unflappable Maury Povich is the ideal role model for the service industry and how bar owners can work to be community allies) break up this alphabetical compendium of cocktail recipes. Make the book your own by taking recipe notes or coloring in the playful, graphic drawings by Bazil Zerinsky and Laura Sanders. A detailed index of ingredients, infusion recipes, and more makes this an ideal companion for any at-home mixologist or industry professional.

 

The New Kindred Spirits: More Than 2,000 All-New Whiskey, Brandy, Agave Spirits, Gin, Vodka, Rum, Amari, Bitters, and Liqueur Reviews from F. Paul Pacult's Spirit Journal by F. Paul Pacult  [amazon][bookshop]

The All-New Bible of Spirits

In 2008, F. Paul Pacult published the second edition of his groundbreaking book of reviews, Kindred Spirits. In the dozen years since, interest in distilled spirits has exploded, and craft distilleries have popped up around the country and the world.

Now, in The New Kindred Spirits, Pacult provides a new and comprehensive compilation of more than 2,400 detailed evaluations of whiskeys, brandies, vodkas, tequilas, rums, gins, and liqueurs—an indispensable reference for any spirits enthusiast or professional.

The New Kindred Spirits is essential for:

Consumers who are just beginning their personal adventure in spirits and want the dependable tutelage of the expert whom Imbibe Magazine recently called “…an all-knowing spirituous oracle, a J.D. Power of liquor.”
Seasoned spirits consumers looking to expand their repertoire and in need of a reliable, highly detailed purchasing guide.
Industry insiders who would like to increase their knowledge about all spirits categories—and see what the competition is up to.
Retailers looking for both a trusted guide to help their clientele make buying decisions, and an educational textbook for their sales staff.
Restauranteurs/bar owners/bartenders who sell spirits and need to know more about them in a time of increasingly knowledgeable customers.
Journalists, educators and other writers who regularly or occasionally cover or teach distilled spirits and mixology.
New in this edition, The New Kindred Spirits will also cover the craft distiller explosion—wherein thousands of small, independent distillers burst onto the scene—through hundreds of reviews of craft spirits.

The world’s most respected and trusted spirits authority, F. Paul Pacult is a critic, journalist, and the creator of F. Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal, which provided meticulous and unbiased spirits reviews for twenty-eight years. But whether reviewing old standby spirits or up-and-comers, readers can count on Paul’s steely, unemotional critic’s eye, just as they have since 1991. More comprehensive than ever before, The New Kindreds Spirits remains true to the guiding principles of careful judgment, no advertising allowed, occasional wisecracks, and totally unbiased opinions.

 

Booze Cruise: A Tour of the World's Essential Mixed Drinks by André Darlington [amazon][bookshop]

Go on a tour of the world's top cocktail destinations, featuring insider info and food-and-drink recipes that will add thrilling new flavors and global flair to your everyday life.

World traveler and drinks writer André Darlington will be your tour guide through more than forty of the globe's most vibrant cocktail locales. Each city stop is packed with insider intel on the current scene, local history, easy food-and-drink recipes, and tasting notes. This sloshy voyage includes: Amsterdam, Dublin, London, Madrid, Stockholm, Cape Town, Tangier, Delhi, Singapore, Beirut, Tokyo, Bogotá, Havana, New Orleans, São Paulo, Toronto, Sydney, and many more!

 

 

HOME BAR BASICS (AND NOT-SO-BASICS) by Dave Stolte [website]

ALL-NEW TENTH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Look no further than this sturdy pocket guide to master your Margarita, perfect your punch, and sharpen your shake. Get to know Slings & Sours, Grogs & Nogs: four drink families, the key to unlocking The Basics. Then, the door is open to explore The Not-So-Basics: complex recipes, homemade liqueurs, and advanced techniques.

Over 200 clearly-written recipes break down the mysteries of classic and craft cocktails. Learn how to curate a core wine selection, stay afloat on best beer and cider choices, even pick up tips for home entertaining with ease. Basically, you’ll be stirring and straining like a pro.

 

Negroni: More than 30 classic and modern recipes for Italy's iconic cocktail by David T Smith and Keli Rivers  [amazon][bookshop]

Over 30 classic recipes and modern twists for Italy's most iconic cocktail, the Negroni.

The Negroni has been a favorite with discerning cocktail drinkers for over a century but has perhaps never been as popular as it is today. What started off as a simple, equal-parts, three-ingredient cocktail (campari, gin, vermouth) has become a global sensation. Included here are recipes for classic Negronis from straight-up over ice to a sparkling aperitivo spritz. This basic formula is then played with in endless ways with Negronis designed for different seasons; bright and citrusy summer versions; cozier, spiced winter drinks; and celebratory cocktails for special occasions.

These exciting variations make use of both dry, sweet, and aged vermouths, along with ports and sherries, and some truly experimental non-gin negronis (made using bourbon, rum or even mezcal) really open up the playing field!

 

 

 

Something and Tonic: A History of the World's Most Iconic Mixer by Nick Kokonas [amazon] [somethingandtonic.com]

The expanse of western civilization was hindered by a mosquito bite. For centuries, malaria devastated the European explorers who defined the contours of our modern world map-and the indigenous people who resisted them. The cure? Quinine contained in the bark of the South American cinchona tree, whose medicinal properties were discovered around the turn of the 17th century. Over 400 years later, quinine defines the essence of tonic, the most iconic mixer in the world.

Something & Tonic follows the fascinating history of tonic from the jungles of the Andes mountains to the happy hour highball. Award-winning bartender Nick Kokonas takes you on a journey around the globe, revealing how tonic emerged from medical necessity to recreational tipple. Included are 60 original cocktail recipes that reveal tonic's potential beyond the highball, plus tips, tricks, and insight into modern bar culture and cocktail making.

 

 

 

Whisky Sommelier: A Journey Through the Culture of Whisky [amazon][bookshop]

This latest entry in the elegantly photographed Sommelier series recounts the long and storied history of whisky--one of the world's most treasured liquors.

Whisky is one of the world's most-appreciated and loved spirits, and this gorgeous volume celebrates its long traditions and legendary brands. It discusses whisky's origins, troubled history, and production, and offers tasting tips on how to drink this luscious liquor. Learn about the different types and the various countries where it is made, the whiskys that collectors most covet (including Highland Park 10, Sonoma 2nd Chance Wheat, and Four Roses Single Barrel, as well as special collector's whiskies from distilleries like Ardbeg and Bowmore); delicious cocktails to whip up, including a Manhattan, Mint Julep, Old Fashioned, and Sazerac; and recipes for dishes that perfectly accompany this divine drink. As always in the Sommelier series, this compilation is lavishly illustrated with stunning photographs and historical images capturing the makers, the bottles, and even vintage advertising posters.

 

Mocktail Party: 75 Plant-Based, Non-Alcoholic Mocktail Recipes for Every Occasion by Diana Licalzi , Kerry Benson [amazon][bookshop]

Swap your favorite cocktails with these plant-based mocktail alternatives!

Developed by two registered dietitians, the non-alcoholic drink recipes in Mocktail Party feature nutritious, all-natural ingredients with minimal sugar that you can easily find at any grocery store. The book also features valuable information about the benefits of an alcohol-free lifestyle, tips for sustainable mixology, and advice for ordering mocktails at a restaurant or bar. If you’re tired of hangovers and don’t want to drink sugar-loaded, processed sodas instead, then these healthy and delicious recipes are for you.

Mocktail Party includes recipes for every occasion:
• Classics like a Pal-no-ma and Aperol-less Spritz
• Drinks with a twist like Watermelon Mock-jito & Summer Jam Fresca
• Brunch favorites like No-Bull Bloody & Kiwi No-secco
• Dessert treats like Salted Carmel & Tiramisu Mock-tinis
• Frozen coolers like No Way Frose & Blueberry Acai Daiquiri
• Holiday beverages like Pumpkin Spice Latte & Warm Cider and Sage

Join the growing movement of health-conscious people who are cutting down on alcohol and opting to "make it a mocktail" instead.

 

Gotham City Cocktails: Official Handcrafted Food & Drinks From the World of Batman by André Darlington [amazon][bookshop]

Craft classic drinks with the first official cocktail book inspired by the residents of Gotham City.

Based on the colorful heroes, villains, and locations of Gotham City, this compendium of delectably enticing cocktails takes readers on a trip through the home of the Dark Knight. Featuring a collection of sophisticated libations, this unique book contains seventy recipes for delicious handcrafted cocktails, as well as a curated selection of tasteful bar bites to pair with the beverages.

With drinks inspired by everyone from Batman himself to Poison Ivy, Commissioner Gordon, and the Joker, DC Comics: Batman: The Official Gotham City Cocktail Book includes step-by-step instructions and tips on how to craft the perfect cocktail, as well as beautiful full-color photography. A refined and elegant volume, this book is an essential addition to every fan’s bar cart or bookshelf.

 

Cocktails, Mocktails, and Garnishes from the Garden: Recipes for Beautiful Beverages with a Botanical Twist by Katie Stryjewski [amazon][bookshop]

Step inside a bartender’s apothecary, forage for garnishes, and craft some of the most popular cocktails, mocktails, and beverages. This beautifully photographed compendium of craft cocktails includes examples of garnishes and interesting ingredients to give any drink a botanical twist.

The go-to reference for classic and modern cocktail recipes. Whether it’s adding a basil sprig or infusing gin with peaches; Cocktails, Mocktails and Garnishes from the Garden gives you the ability to make classic cocktails and the confidence to craft innovative concoctions. Alongside recipes of some of the most popular cocktails come new-fangled libations, non-alcoholic equivalents, and instructions to create gorgeous garnishes.

Creating your very own herb bar and garnish garden for craft cocktails. A cocktail recipe book from the wild; Cocktails, Mocktails and Garnishes from the Garden features examples of garnishes and general know-how. With a reference guide of herbal and floral flavors that complement different spirits, and details about what to plant and how to grow your very own herb bar, you can craft cocktail recipes alongside nature.

Inside, learn about herbs and their uses as well as:

General instructions on creating a garnish garden
The difference between a high ball and a coupe glass
Which bar tools are “must haves” for a home cocktail set-up

 

Fun With Rum: A Booze Fairy Cocktail Recipe Book by Mr. Keith Kaczorek [amazon][bookshop]

Finally a cocktail recipe book for the drunken pirate in all of us Who hasn't enjoyed a nice fruity rum drink at a tiki bar or holiday celebration, only to fall back to our daily rations of wine, beer and pedestrian cocktails forgetting that venerable, versatile spirit of the sugar cane. Well "The Booze Fairy's Fun With Rum Drink Recipe Book" is here to put a stop to that right now Jam packed with 100+ rum cocktail recipes and a bunch of rum facts it will help you get out of your rum rut and into the lively rum life. So next time you're entertaining, even if it's just yourself, whip out this book, whip out the rum and whip up a fun rum cocktail. You'll thank the Booze Fairy that you did.

 

 

 

 

 

Queer Cocktails: 50 cocktail recipes celebrating gay icons and queer culture by Lewis Laney [amazon][bookshop] 

This collection of cocktail recipes celebrates queer culture and pays tribute to the great gay icons of our time. Try your hand at mixing a Bloody Mariah (Carey), (Stephen) Fry Martini, or Rocket Man and get your tastebuds tingling.

With recipes inspired by Beyonce (Bey’s Knees), Freddie Mercury (Tequila Queen), Whitney Houston (I Will Always Love Woo Woo), and more, there’s plenty to keep all cocktail movers and shakers busy and thirsts well and truly quenched—we'll drink to that!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Curious Bartender: Cocktails At Home: More than 75 recipes for classic and iconic drinks by Tristan Stephenson  [amazon][bookshop]

An expert guide to setting up a home bar, plus over 75 cocktail recipes to try from one of the world’s leading bartenders, drinks industry innovator, and best-selling author.

Preparing a first-class cocktail relies upon an understanding of its ingredients and the delicate alchemy of how they work together. Here, Tristan Stephenson—drinks industry consultant, bar owner, restaurateur and author of best-selling drinks books—offers his expert advice on the fundamentals of home mixology and shares his perfected recipes for classic cocktails. Enjoy a Manhattan, Negroni, and Martini, discover lesser known vintage gems including the Martinez and Aviation as well as modern favorites the Espresso Martini and Mojito.

 

 

 

 

American Cider: A Modern Guide to a Historic Beverage  by Dan Pucci and Craig Cavallo [amazon][bookshop]

Cider today runs the gamut from sweet to dry, smooth to funky, made from apples and sometimes joined by other fruits—and even hopped like beer. In American Cider, aficionados Dan Pucci and Craig Cavallo give a new wave of consumers the tools to taste, talk about, and choose their ciders, along with stories of the many local heroes saving apple culture and producing new varieties. Like wine made from well-known grapes, ciders differ based on the apples they’re made from and where and how those apples were grown. Combining the tasting tools of wine and beer, the authors illuminate the possibilities of this light, flavorful, naturally gluten-free beverage.

And cider is more than just its taste—it’s also historic, as the nation’s first popular alcoholic beverage, made from apples brought across the Atlantic from England. Pucci and Cavallo use a region-by-region approach to illustrate how cider and the apples that make it came to be, from the well-known tale of Johnny Appleseed—which isn’t quite what we thought—to the more surprising effects of industrial development and government policies that benefited white men. American Cider is a guide to enjoying cider, but even more so, it is a guide to being part of a community of consumers, farmers, and fermenters making the nation’s oldest beverage its newest must-try drink.

 

The Infused Cocktail Handbook: The Essential Guide to Homemade Blends and Infusions by Kurt Maitland [amazon][bookshop]

Pump up the flavors of spirits and mixers with this essential guide to homemade blends and infusions.

Pump up the flavors of spirits and mixers with The Infused Cocktail Handbook, the essential guide to homemade blends and infusions. The illustrated recipes explain which ingredients go best when infusing vodka, gin, tequila, whiskey, rum, and sherry and cover a range of globetrotting flavor profiles, from Earl Gray tea to lemongrass, cardamom, and walnuts, as well as gummy bears and bacon. With The Infused Cocktail Handbook not only will you know how to make your very own signature cocktails, you’ll save money doing it.

 

 

 

 

Tokyo Cocktails: An Elegant Collection of Over 100 Recipes Inspired by the Eastern Capital by Nicholas Coldicott [amazon][bookshop]

An elegant collection of over 100 recipes inspired by the Eastern Capital.

With over 13.5 million residents squeezed in to 845 square miles, Tokyo stands as one of the world’s most beguiling cities. On the surface it appears to be nothing but towering buildings and glaring lights. But once you get to know the city, its 23 wards reveal hidden alleyways, along many of which you can find singular drinking establishments. Tokyo Cocktails takes you inside the city’s best bars and introduces you to bartenders and mixologists conjuring up drinks that reflect the city’s essence, namely how thousands of years of tradition fuse with myriad contemporary influences. Featuring over 100 recipes that honor and reinvent classics and make the best of local ingredients, this book is the ideal cocktail enthusiast’s guide to drinking like a local, whether you’re making a trip to Tokyo or staying at home and simply wishing you were there.

Nicholas Coldicott lives in Tokyo and has written about the city’s food and drink scenes for numerous publications, including Conde Nast Traveller, Time Out Tokyo, Japan Times, and Departures; he is also the author of the Wallpaper* City Guides for Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.

 

London Cocktails: Over 100 Recipes Inspired by the Heart of Britannia by Felipe Schrieberg [amazon][bookshop]

A stunning collection of over 100 recipes inspired by the heart of Britannia.

Forget pouring a cuppa, fill your glass with unique drinks from the heart of Britain and explore some of the best pubs and lounges the home of Big Ben has to offer. Enjoy cocktails from some of London’s best bartenders and mixologists from the comfort of your own home. Plan your next stroll along the River Thames or bring the big city to your home bar with photographs and recipes that capture the heart of the city. City Cocktails profiles some of the most happening cities in the world to give readers a taste of class, no matter where they set their glass.

 

 

 

 

Cocktails of the Movies: An Illustrated Guide to Cinematic Mixology, New Expanded Edition by Will Francis and Stacey Marsh [amazon][bookshop]

Now available in a new expanded and updated edition, Cocktails of the Movies serves up the 72 greatest cocktails to have featured on film.

Take a journey through Hollywood's lifelong love affair with cocktails, celebrating the greatest characters and their iconic drinks through original illustrations and easy-to-follow recipes. From Marilyn's Manhattan in Some Like It Hot to The Dude's White Russian in The Big Lebowski, there's something for everyone. Each cocktail is accompanied by the recipe, method, a history of the drink and a synopsis of its scene in the movie alongside full-color original artwork.

 

 

 

 

The Low-Proof Happy Hour: Real Cocktails Without the Hangover by Jules Aron [amazon][bookshop]

Want to drink less alcohol and have more fun? Embrace the lower-proof lifestyle with these 75 cocktails.

If your cocktail hour usually includes a martini or a manhattan, you may equate lower alcohol options with a dreaded light beer. But it doesn’t need to be that way! In this revolutionary new book, Jules Aron reveals the secret behind low-proof libations that satisfy all your senses without knocking you off your feet. By building your drinks with a delicious array of lower-proof alcohols, such as amari, sherry, herbal liqueurs, and shochu, you’ll balance out the high-proof components like gin and tequila. These tricks can also apply to traditionally lighter drinks, too. Aron embraces garden-to-glass trends with spice-infused vodka, sweet-and-sour shrubs, and other, more health-conscious drinks.

Most experts agree that drinking less booze is better for your health. Cutting back on alcohol has been shown to help with weight loss, libido, and general well-being. With beautiful photography and contributions from well-known mixologists, this is a distinctive addition to the low-proof library.

 

Texas Whiskey: A Rich History of Distilling Whiskey in the Lone Star State by Nico Martini [amazon][bookshop]

Texas Whiskey: here is the first and only book to tell the story of Texas whiskey.

Texas history runs deep, and the history of whiskey in the state is no exception. But the Texas whiskey scene, which emphasizes local corn and barrels made from trees grown in the state, has grown exponentially in the last 10 years, as this collection of over 100 varied distillers makes clear. Locals and tourists alike will discover new expressions that are sure to satisfy tastes as varied as Texas is large. Texas Whiskey, through distillery profiles, interviews with experts, and original photography, tells the story of how whiskey from the Lone Star State is unlike whiskey being made anywhere else on the planet.

Nico Martini is the co-founder of Bar Draught, mobile draught cocktail solutions, is the founder of Hypeworthy, a digital marketing and branding agency, and is a former lecturer at the University of Texas at Dallas. He has taught for the USBG, Bar Institute NYC and Bar Institute Portland.

 

 

Whiskey Rebels: The Dreamers, Visionaries & Badasses Who Are Revolutionizing American Whiskey by John McCarthy [amazon][bookshop]

In 2003, the United States had about 60 craft distillers; today there are over 2,000 in all corners of the country, 500 of which are making whiskey. This book introduces the entrepreneurs and the companies behind this American craft whiskey movement.

Whiskey Rebels is a collection of first-person accounts of the brilliant, brave, and slightly crazy innovators responsible for changing the whiskey landscape forever—people like Ralph Erenzo, recipient of the first distilling license in New York State in 80 years who went on to create Hudson Baby Bourbon; Nicole Austin, a prominent female producer and vocal activist who brought an indie spirit to the renowned American whiskey region of Tennessee through George Dickel Tennessee Whisky; and Bill Owens, who founded the American Distilling Institute in 2003.

Spirits pro and award-winning author John McCarthy (The Modern Gentleman) has conducted hundreds of hours of interviews to gather these fascinating first-person accounts and give readers an amusing and thorough insight into the world of American craft whiskey. Under his expert guidance, readers will also learn the requirements to be considered a craft whiskey distiller, the effect of the craft beer movement on modern craft distilling, why craft distillers hate the word “craft,” and many other pieces of insider information.

 

Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization by Edward Slingerland [amazon][bookshop]

While plenty of entertaining books have been written about the history of alcohol and other intoxicants, none have offered a comprehensive, convincing answer to the basic question of why humans want to get high in the first place.

Drunk elegantly cuts through the tangle of urban legends and anecdotal impressions that surround our notions of intoxication to provide the first rigorous, scientifically-grounded explanation for our love of alcohol. Drawing on evidence from archaeology, history, cognitive neuroscience, psychopharmacology, social psychology, literature, and genetics, Slingerland shows that our taste for chemical intoxicants is not an evolutionary mistake, as we are so often told. In fact, intoxication helps solve a number of distinctively human challenges: enhancing creativity, alleviating stress, building trust, and pulling off the miracle of getting fiercely tribal primates to cooperate with strangers. Our desire to get drunk, along with the individual and social benefits provided by drunkenness, played a crucial role in sparking the rise of the first large-scale societies. We would not have civilization without intoxication.

From marauding Vikings and bacchanalian orgies to sex-starved fruit flies, blind cave fish, and problem-solving crows, Drunk is packed with fascinating case studies and engaging science, as well as practical takeaways for individuals and communities. The result is a captivating and long overdue investigation into humanity's oldest indulgence—one that explains not only why we want to get drunk, but also how it might actually be good for us to tie one on now and then.

 

 

Jupiter Disco Preservation Zine [buy]

Print edition of Preservation, Jupiter Disco's pandemic zine. Original cocktail recipes from Al Sotack & Maks Pazuniak, art, interviews, record selections and more.