Alcademics

Below is the last batch of drink books (mostly spirits/cocktails) coming out this year. As usual, I'll post a list of all the drink books that came out this year in a few weeks, but to give these their fair share of attention they are below. 

I usually put links to both Amazon and Bookshop. It's usually a few dollars more expensive, but if you can afford it, Bookshop supports independent bookstores, while Amazon destroys them. To look at all the books on Bookshop rather than below, follow this link.

The descriptions below come from the publishers and are not reviews by me. If you purchase them after clicking the links I may earn an affiliate commission, so please do! 

 

 

 

LoveSexy Cocktail Guide by André Akinyele [amazon][bookshop]

Shake Up Your Sexy with 138 alluring recipes and illustrations celebrating songs by Prince!

"LoveSexy Cocktail Guide" is a curated collection of 138 Prince song inspired cocktail recipes and illustrations. This is a must-have book for fans of an incredible man who revolutionized the music industry.

This one-of-a-kind book is an A-to-Z guide of Prince song inspired cocktail recipes for making classic, contemporary, and fun drinks to celebrate Prince. These pages contain classic cocktails inspired from the song catalog of Prince―an astonishing artist, entertainer, musician, and songwriter in pop culture. Make a cocktail playlist from the curated Prince songs included, and decode the mysteries behind each song alongside tasty, inspired recipes.

 

Booze Over Broadway: 50 Cocktails for Theatre Lovers by Tiller Press, Michael Goff [amazon][bookshop]

Enjoy a delicious cocktail while belting out Broadway tunes with this witty guidebook that perfectly pairs your favorite showtunes and Broadway musicals with innovative libations.

Do you have a strong love for Andrew Lloyd Weber or Stephen Sondheim? Do you consider “Defying Gravity” to be the ultimate, underrated karaoke song? Then get ready to raise your glass and belt out that high-C with Booze Over Broadway. Featuring 50 delectable drinks from a rising star in the New York City bar scene, this clever and creative manual allows you to make delicious cocktails right from the comfort of your home. This witty, accessible book also includes commentary, step-by-step instructions, and whimsical illustrations throughout. Recipes include:
-Hello, Daquiri!
-The Best Little Whiskey Sour in Texas
-Don’t Cry for Me, Appletini
-I Don’t Know How to Love Gin
-Bloody, Bloody, Mary Jackson
-Once on this (Long) Island Iced Tea
-Brandy Alexander Hamilton
-If I Were a Rich Man(hattan)
-And more!

Fresh and fun, Booze Over Broadway will have cocktail connoisseurs and Broadway buffs alike screaming “encore!” (and “cheers”).

 

Death & Co Welcome Home by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, Dave Kaplan [amazon][bookshop]

The ultimate guide to choosing ingredients, developing your palate, mixing drinks, and leveling up your home cocktail game—with more than 600 recipes—from the bestselling team behind Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails and James Beard Book of the Year Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions

“The mad geniuses behind Death & Co have elevated cocktail creation to punk-rock artistry. This dazzling book brings their brilliance home.”—Aisha Tyler

Imagine you’re a rookie bartender and this is your handbook. Your training begins with a boot camp of sorts, where you follow the same path a Death & Co bartender would to discover your own palate and preferences, learn how to select ingredients, understand what makes a great cocktail work, and mix drinks like an old pro. Then it’s time to invite your friends over to show off the batched and ready-to-pour mixtures you stored in the freezer so you could enjoy your guests instead of making drinks all night.

More than 600 recipes anchor the book, including classics, low-ABV and nonalcoholic cocktails, and hundreds of signature creations developed by the Death & Co teams in New York, Los Angeles, and Denver. With hundreds of evocative photographs and illustrations, this comprehensive, visually arresting manual is destined to break new ground in home bars across the world—and make your next get-together the invite of the year.

 

You Had Me at Pet-Nat: A Natural Wine-Soaked Memoir by Rachel Signer [amazon][bookshop]

From the publisher of Pipette Magazine, discover a natural wine-soaked memoir about finding your passion--and falling in love.

It was Rachel Signer's dream to be that girl: the one smoking hand-rolled cigarettes out the windows of her 19th-century Parisian studio apartment, wearing second-hand Isabel Marant jeans and sipping a glass of Beaujolais redolent of crushed roses with a touch of horse mane. Instead she was an under-appreciated freelance journalist and waitress in New York City, frustrated at always being broke and completely miserable in love. When she tastes her first pétillant-naturel (pét-nat for short), a type of natural wine made with no additives or chemicals, it sets her on a journey of self-discovery, both deeply personal and professional, that leads her to Paris, Italy, Spain, Georgia, and finally deep into the wilds of South Australia and which forces her, in the face of her "Wildman," to ask herself the hard question: can she really handle the unconventional life she claims she wants?
Have you ever been sidetracked by something that turned into a career path? Did you ever think you were looking for a certain kind of romantic partner, but fell in love with someone wild, passionate and with a completely different life? For Signer, the discovery of natural wine became an introduction to a larger ethos and philosophy that she had long craved: one rooted in egalitarianism, diversity, organics, environmental concerns, and ancient traditions. In You Had Me at Pét-Nat, as Signer begins to truly understand these revolutionary wine producers upending the industry, their deep commitment to making their wine with integrity and with as little intervention as possible, she is smacked with the realization that unless she faces, head-on, her own issues with commitment, she will not be able to live a life that is as freewheeling, unpredictable, and singular as the wine she loves.

 

The Cocktail Workshop: An Essential Guide to Classic Drinks and How to Make Them Your Own by Steven Grasse, Adam Erace [amazon][bookshop]

From the wildly creative team behind Philadelphia's Art in the Age comes The Cocktail Workshop, a deep-dive into 20 classic drinks that make up the foundation of cocktail creation, and the delicious variations that will make them all your own.

Learn to craft a perfect, classic drink, or workshop that creation into a unique, flavor-forward spin with The Cocktail Workshop, an indispensable guide to foundational cocktails and the tools to elevate them into master-level creations. In this richly illustrated book, the team behind Philadelphia's beloved Art in the Age guides aspiring mixologists through the fundamentals of 20 essential cocktails. Then, each foundational drink is spun off into creative and customizable riffs on flavors, techniques, and ingredients, called Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master versions. Each classic drink is concluded by a Workshop: how to take your at-home bar efforts to the next level with aging, infusing, garnishing, and more.

Drawing on the building blocks of iconic cocktails like the daiquiri and the old-fashioned, readers will grow their knowledge base as they move through each drink, taking away real skills for their home bar -- like the proper way to dry-shake an egg white cocktail or carve a manicured lime twist -- and an understanding of the fundamentals of cocktailing: how drinks are created, related, and integrated.

 

Sparkling Wine for Modern Times: A Drinker's Guide to the Freewheeling World of Bubbles by Zachary Sussman, Editors of PUNCH [amazon][bookshop]

This is the definitive guide to sparkling wine today, complete with profiles of exemplary producers, bottle recommendations, colorful infographics, and illustrated guides.

Sparkling Wine for Modern Times considers sparkling wine traditions and offerings from around the world. This approachable book explores our perpetual fascination with sparkling wine and places each regional expression within the wider wine zeitgeist--from the radical grower revolution reshaping the highly conservative area of Champagne to Prosecco's overnight transformation into a multi-million-dollar brand to the retro appeal of natural wine's cult-hit pétillant naturel to the next generation of real wines from Lambrusco, and beyond.

The book covers the essential information for each growing region and highlights up-and-coming areas such as Jura in France, as well as can't-miss trends including traditional-method Sicilian sparklers and Califorinian pét-nat. For each region, renowned wine writer Zachary Sussman gives expert bottle recommendations to seek out--wines that truly capture the style and spirit of the place. Fun and informative illustrated timelines, color charts, and production-method breakdowns from illustrator Nick Hensley appear throughout for quick learning. For anyone who's ever wondered why bubbles are confined to birthdays and holidays, Sparkling Wine for Modern Times is your go-to guide to enjoying sparkling wine all year long.

 

The Way of the Cocktail: Japanese Traditions, Techniques, and Recipes by Julia Momosé and Emma Janzen [amazon][bookshop]

A rich, transportive guide to the world of Japanese cocktails from acclaimed bartender Julia Momosé of Kumiko

“A feast for the senses and a new benchmark for the bartending genre.”—Jim Meehan, author of Meehan’s Bartender Manual and The PDT Cocktail Book

With its studious devotion to tradition, craftsmanship, and hospitality, Japanese cocktail culture is an art form treated with reverence. In this essential guide, Japanese American bartender Julia Momosé of Kumiko and Kikkō in Chicago takes us on a journey into this realm. She educates and inspires while breaking down master techniques and delving into the soul of the culture: the traditions and philosophy, the tools and the spirits—and the complex layering of these elements that makes this approach so significant.

The recipes are inspired by the twenty-four micro-seasons that define the flow of life in Japan. Enter a world where the spiced woodsy cocktail called Autumn’s Jacket evokes the smoldering burn of smoking rice fields in fall, and where the Delicate Refusal tells the tale of spring’s tragic beauty, with tequila blanco and a flutter of sakura petals. Perfected classics like the Manhattan and Negroni, riffs on some of Japan’s most beloved cocktails like the Whisky Highball, and even alcohol-free drinks influenced by ingredients such as yuzu, matcha, and umé round out the collection.

 

Bourbon: The Story of Kentucky Whiskey by Clay Risen [amazon][bookshop]

A visually stunning illustrated guide to the history, craft, and appreciation of Kentucky bourbon

Bourbon, we soon realized, was not just a good drink. It was a drink with a story, from a place, with an unbreakable tie to the people and the land that produced it.

Whiskey expert Clay Risen explores the origins, history, and evolution of America's distilling craft and culture in this luxurious boxed set. From boom to bust and back again, Risen tells the engrossing story of Kentucky whiskey, using interviews, photographs, and archival material to illuminate the singular region where bourbon was born. This meticulously researched book details how bourbon is made, how best to enjoy it, and how to build your own collection, along with profiles of the distilleries and makers that form the landscape of bourbon country.

 

San Francisco Cocktails: An Elegant Collection of Over 100 Recipes Inspired by the City by the Bay by Trevor Felch [amazon][bookshop]

Featuring recipes from and profiles on some of the most recognizable bars in San Francisco, this is the definitive guide to drinking in San Fran. With easy-to-follow recipes sure to be a crowd pleaser and inspiring interviews with local bartenders, this is the perfect gift for cocktail lovers everywhere. Gorgeous, full-color photography gives you a taste of each cocktail long before you mix them up yourself. No matter where you find yourself, San Francisco Cocktails will transport you to the heart of the city in seconds flat.

Trevor Felch is a restaurants writer for SF Weekly and the San Francisco Examiner, along with contributing editor and West Coast writer for Vino 24/7. Previously he lived in the start-up world as co-founder and creative director for the neighborhood social mapping company Urbane.

 

 

Can I Mix You a Drink? by T-PAIN, Maxwell Britten [amazon][bookshop]

 

Grammy Award winning artist T-Pain brings Can I Mix You A Drink?, a liquor guide inspired by his Platinum hits, combining unique drinks with an experience that only T-Pain can provide.

In 2007, "rappa ternt sanga" T-Pain released his hit single "Can I Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin')," propelling the artist to mainstream royalty. Since then, the Tallahassee, Florida native has secured his position as one of the most successful and diverse hip-hop artists in the world. It all started, really, with a song about liquor. T-Pain's extensive career has been punctuated by libations. It's been a part of his music, his business acumen (having secured a number of ambassador deals with liquor brands like Jose Cuervo), and his overall persona. Now, T-Pain brings his love of mixology and music in book form, titled Can I Mix You A Drink? Working with Mixologist Maxwell Britten, former Bar Director to Brooklyn's James Beard Award Winning Maison Premiere, T-Pain sets cocktails to music. Each drink has been carefully curated to reflect a sentiment from one of his hit songs. Drink by drink, T-Pain explores levels of new flavors (and potencies) to create a work that can be used for parties, local bars, pre-gaming before the club, or even just a quiet night at home. It's nearly impossible not to hear T-Pain's music as you read through the drinks and their unique combinations and names. Considering T-Pain is known for unorthodox mixes in his music, expect the same from his drinks, along with some classic cocktails modified by T-Pain himself. Whether you're a fan of T-Pain or a fan of drink-making, Can I Mix You A Drink? is the cocktail book for you.

 

The Thinking Drinkers Almanac: Drinks For Every Day Of The Year by Ben McFarland, Tom Sandham [amazon][bookshop]

A humorous miscellany with stories and recipes relating to all types of drinks - from beer and wine, to cocktails and spirits - from all over the world

No matter what day of the year it is and regardless of the occasion, there is always a very good reason to enjoy a drink. Responsibly of course.

Aimed at discerning drinkers keen to broaden their booze horizons and those looking to become more adventurous in their elbow-bending, this enlightening and alternative almanac celebrates every day of the year with an appropriate alcoholic drink - featuring everything from Absinthe and Zinfandel to Martinis and Monastic beers.

It's a cocktail of cultural history, eccentric events, unlikely anniversaries, recipes and recommendations infused with all manner of 'interestingness", several dashes of drinking did-you-knows, fascinating facts, famous folk, unsung heroes, lesser-known legends from all walks of life and major weird, wonderful and well-known moments from our past.

 

Anthologin by Samuele Ambrosi, Maurizio Maestrelli [amazon]

• Everything you ever wanted to know about gin: its rich history, curious and entertaining anecdotes, technical traits and production methods, the botanicals associated with its making, the various cocktails it's used in, and a list of the 100 absolutely not-to-miss gins

• Splendid illustrations full of lively details

Anthologin is the product of a fortuitous encounter that brought together Samuele Ambrosi, an internationally renowned, multi-award-winning barman with a stellar résumé, Maurizio Maestrelli, esteemed journalist and author of several books on beer and spirits, and Serena Conti, fine illustrator and designer whose collaborations have extended far beyond Italy's borders. It tells the fascinating story of gin, that most popular of spirits whose long, seductive history transcends aromas and flavor, technical traits and production systems. It's a story brimming with fascinating anecdotes on gin's origins and evolution, political and economic influences, and episodes involving famous figures. And it is this “behind the scenes” knowledge that renders every sip of gin so special, realizations that help us better appreciate the rebirth of mixology and the revived interest in gin. Today you hold the definitive gin guide in your hands.

 

Enjoying Bourbon: A Tasting Guide and Journal by Frank Flannery, Jeff McLaughlin [amazon][bookshop]

This informative reference meets tasting journal is your essential guide to the pleasure and versatility of this well-loved, globally sought-after spirit.

Whether you are a novice or savvy enthusiast, Enjoying Bourbon teaches you the fascinating history of America’s native spirit as well as how to enjoy and evaluate it for a myriad of tastes, textures, and flavor subtleties. It also takes a look at some of the most popular bourbon brands so you can learn how to cut through the marketing and really understand what you’re getting. The journal section creates an accessible, interactive journey that helps you record your tasting experiences with barrel-aged bourbons so you can find new favorites based on your flavor preferences. This guide:
Takes you through the finer points of tasting bourbon
Offers an interactive format for recording your experiences
Includes a collection of bourbon cocktail recipes that take your experience deeper into the world of bourbon enjoyment
From classic to new-generation bourbon distilleries hailing from across the USA, you’ll learn all you need to enjoy bourbon with the knowledge of a seasoned enthusiast. Whether you choose straight-up sipping or are more of a Manhattan kind of barfly, Enjoying Bourbon offers a hands-on guide to the world of bourbon and its complexities of flavors.

 

Enjoying Rum: A Tasting Guide and Journal by Frank Flannery, Jeff McLaughlin [amazon][bookshop]

This informative reference meets tasting journal teaches spirit enthusiasts how to deeply appreciate drinking rum of all kinds.

From classic to new-generation rums hailing from countries around the world, this book gives you the information you need to enjoy rum with knowledge. Whether you are a straight-up sipper or a frozen-with-an-umbrella-drink type, Enjoying Rum offers a hands-on guide and reference to the world of rum and its many varieties and tastes.

With the growth of rum distilleries worldwide, this spirit is surpassing its reputation as just a spirit to mix in an island cocktail. The days of Captain Morgan’s being the only option are long gone and savvy spirit aficionados are developing a newfound respect and love for this once-swashbuckling spirit. There are now subtle and distinct flavor variations and nuances in rum options that hail from diverse regions around the globe. The premium rum market is growing fast as a segment of the spirits market both in the US and abroad.

Enjoying Rum offers insight into the growing world of this versatile liquor—with its complex flavors tastes and classic cocktails that are synonymous with relaxation. With this book in hand, you may be inclined to make rum your spirit of choice as you:
Discover rum's dry, sweet, rich, and mellow variations
Choose from a collection of classic cocktail recipes
Follow tasting notes on a full range of rums
Enjoying Rum is the perfect gift for your rum-loving friends (or just for yourself!)—no matter what flavor path they choose.

 

World Atlas of Beer: The Essential Guide to the Beers of the World by Tim Webb, Stephen Beaumont [amazon][bookshop]

The definitive guide to world beer fully updated for a third edition

As craft brewing continues to go from strength to strength across the world, World Atlas of Beer is the definitive and essential guide to beer. Understand the rich, multi-faceted traditions of Belgium, the Nordic legend that is Finnish Sahti, the relatively new phenomenon of the New England hazy IPA, and why Australia's lower-strength beers are one of its great successes. With thousands of breweries now operating around the globe, and more opening every day, this is the expert guide to what is really worth drinking.

Country by country the book considers a vast range of brewing techniques, beer styles and traditions. Detailed maps describe crucial trends in major territories and features such as matching beer with food and how to pour different kinds of beer complete the picture.

Now in a fully updated third edition, this book is the perfect companion to help you explore the best beers the world has to offer.

 

Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails: A Collection of Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails by Emanuele Mensah [amazon][bookshop]

With an elegant platinum-foil hardcover, Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails is an evocative collection of more than 60 mezcal and tequila cocktail recipes!

What do you know about Mezcal? Maybe you have some vague idea about its relationship to agave, or that there might be a worm at the bottom of the bottle. You may know that tequila is a type of mezcal, or that mezcal is more intensively handcrafted than almost any other spirit, making it a true farm-to-table drink. Or perhaps you’ve heard tell of its hallucinogenic property—which is apocryphal, just so you know. At the end of the day, you probably don’t know that much about it, but if you’ve ever tried it then you know one thing for certain: its smoky, complex flavor is irresistible. And this fact alone is responsible for its recent stateside spike in popularity; but don’t worry, the train hasn’t left the station yet! Mezcal Cocktails will make you an expert on the beverage before there’s a Mezcal bar on every city corner. If the 2010s belonged to artisan absinthe cocktails, the 2020s are sure to be the age of agave!

With an irresistible silver foil hardcover and 40+ gorgeous photographs, Mezcal Cocktails features over 60 recipes for craft cocktails made with the previously hard-to-find spirit, such as
the Mezcal Negroni
the Cactus Flower
Mezcalita
Oaxaca Old Fashioned
Killer Bee
Marrakesh Express

Plus, easy recipes for gorgeous craft cocktail ingredients, from syrups to garnishes! Though it isn’t as ubiquitous as vodka or whiskey, mezcal is actually very easy to work with, as its flavor pairs beautifully with so many ingredients! Bartender Emanuele Mensah shares the rich and fascinating history of mezcal and tequila, all while making mezcal the go-to staple of your home bar.

 

Happy Hour: Poems to Raise a Glass to  by Gaby Morgan, Jancis Robinson [amazon][bookshop]

Happy Hour is a gorgeous gift book of classic poetry which fizzes with poetry about all kinds of drink, drinkers and drinking place. All this and more is introduced by celebrated wine critic Jancis Robinson.

Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, pocket-sized classics with ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover.

Many of the most famous poets have weaved the delights and temptations of drink into their verse. In Happy Hour: Poems to Raise a Glass To, there are chapters on whisky and beer, celebrations, why we drink and where we go to do it. Robert Burns is here, of course, alongside Yeats, Keats, Emily Dickinson, Hilaire Belloc, Sara Teasdale, Edward Lear, G. K. Chesterton and many more.

 

 

Amber Revolution: How the World Learned to Love Orange Wine by Simon J. Woolf [amazon][bookshop]

Written by renowned orange wine expert and award winning writer Simon J. Woolf, Amber Revolution is the world’s first book to tell the full, forgotten story of this ancient wine (white wine made like a red wine) and its modern struggle to gain acceptance. It is a tale of lost identity, the fight for survival, and pioneering winemakers―from the Caucasus to the Adriatic.

White grapes are left in contact with their skins for days, weeks or months during fermentation, creating stunning complexity, unusual aromas and intense flavors. The extended skin contact gives these wines bold amber, russet, or orange tints. The technique is ancient, but the hype is new and fast growing.

This book includes profiles of 180 of the best producers from 20 countries worldwide and is crammed full of all the information you need to find the best orange wines worldwide together with tips for how to buy, enjoy, food-match and age them.

Beautifully illustrated with over 150 specially commissioned photos, Amber Revolution is an essential reference work for any wine lover, sommelier, retailer or producer who loves orange wine.

 

Experimental Dining: Performance, Experience and Ideology in Contemporary Creative Restaurants by Paul Geary [amazon][bookshop]

A provocative study of the creative dining experience as a multisensory performance.

Experimental Dining examines the work of four of the world’s leading creative restaurants: el Bulli in Catalonia, the Fat Duck in Berkshire, Noma in Copenhagen, and Alinea in Chicago. The author contends that the work of the experimental restaurant, while operating explicitly within an economy of experiences, is not absolutely determined by that political and economic context. Exploring gastronomy as experience, Paul Geary examines the restaurants’ creative methods and the broader ideological discourses within which they operate. Bringing together ideas around food, philosophy, performance, and cultural politics, the book offers an interdisciplinary understanding of the world of experimental experiential dining.

 

 

Churchill's Cocktail Cookbook by Imperial War Museums [amazon][bookshop]

Thirty new and classic cocktail recipes inspired by the colorful and controversial Winston Churchill.

This charming book from the Imperial War Museums features dozens of cocktail recipes, each accompanied by detailed instructions, an ingredients list, and a short description of how the drink is inspired by British former head of state Winston Churchill. Photographs of the cocktails at Churchill War Rooms or the Churchill Bar accompany each recipe, and archival images of Churchill himself, drawn from the Imperial War Museums collection, tie the volume together. Published in association with the Churchill Bar at the Hyatt Regency Churchill in London, this is the ideal gift for anyone who likes a glass of something strong mixed with a splash of history.

 

 

The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails by David Wondrich, Noah Rothbaum [amazon][bookshop]

Anthropologists and historians have confirmed the central role alcohol has played in nearly every society since the dawn of human civilization, but it is only recently that it has been the subject of serious scholarly inquiry. The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails is the first major
reference work to cover the subject from a global perspective, and provides an authoritative, enlightening, and entertaining overview of this third branch of the alcohol family. It will stand alongside the bestselling Companions to Wine and Beer, presenting an in-depth exploration of the world of
spirits and cocktails in a groundbreaking synthesis.

The Companion covers drinks, processes, and techniques from around the world as well as those in the US and Europe. It provides clear explanations of the different ways that spirits are produced, including fermentation, distillation, and ageing, alongside a wealth of new detail on the emergence of
cocktails and cocktail bars, including entries on key cocktails and influential mixologists and cocktail bars. With entries ranging from Manhattan and mixology to sloe gin and stills, the Companion combines coverage of the range of spirit-based drinks around the world with clear explanations of
production processes, and the history and culture of their consumption. It is the ultimate guide to understanding what is in your glass.

The Companion is lavishly illustrated throughout, and appendices include a timeline of spirits and distillation and a guide to mixing drinks.

 

Everything You Need to Know About Whisky: (But are too afraid to ask) by Nicholas Morgan [amazon][bookshop]

Demystify the world of whisky. Whisky experts Nick Morgan and The Whisky Exchange open the lid on the whisky industry, revealing what makes one of the world's simplest spirits just so popular.

Everything You Need to Know About Whisky will answer all of your burning questions; from what makes the perfect scotch and how to drink it like a pro to an exploration of distilleries around the world and their fascinating (often scandalous) histories. This indispensable guide is filled with insider tips on finding your new favorite bottle and brewing up the very best whisky based cocktails - essential reading for all whisky fans, novices and experts alike.