By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Cocktails Blogger
A book dedicated to drinks is something I will raise my glass to anytime. They are good for information, reference, history and for whenever I get behind my bar.
So it was with much interest when I received one on traditional drinks and it was more than I expected. Not only does it contain recipes but has information on simple syrups, smoked drinks, sours and even slushy ones (and not of the sugary type you get at Fat Tuesdays). Called Classic Cocktail Revival (University of Kentucky Press) by Jennifer Brian, it is everything you need to know to make drinks at home. Or simply to impress your friends with some knowledge about them.
“As a self-proclaimed cocktail evangelist, I am here to bring you good news about booze,” Brian writes in the introduction.
It contains a brief history and a detailed instructions on how to make martinis, the Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Cosmopolitian, Highballs, Negronis, spritzes and sangrias and – something Ole Miss fans would certainly appreciate – Hottie Toddies.
The book is as classy as the cocktails in it. It is a hardback with the pages printed on high-quality paper. The photography, by Jessie Kriech-Higdon and Jennifer herself, is outstanding. The artwork, by Michelle F. VanderHouven, is simple and adds to the pages rather than serving as a distraction. Open it up and it has that “new book” smell.
While designed as a guide for making drinks at home, it doubles as a conversation piece to put on display in one’s living room or bar area.
Classic Cocktail Revival has much more than just recipes. There’s a brief history of featured cocktails – this is something I love because most have interesting histories and even controversial ones – plus practical information to make you seem as if you actually know what you are doing when trying to impress friends or visitors. What type of glassware shall I use? Shake or stir? It’s in there. It even has a section on bar equipment.
Based in the bourbon capital of Louisville, Brian brings three decades of experience in the hospitality industry as a luxury caterer, events planner, and mixologist. She co-founded the award-winning craft cocktail company Make & Muddle in 2018 and now leads it as sole owner. Her lively tastings and cocktail masterclasses are sought after by individuals, corporations, and groups nationwide.
Forgiving Jennifer for occasionally ending sentences with prepositions (a particular pet peeve of mine, incidentally) I find it to be a very enjoyable read. You can follow here here on Instagram.
The book is available for $29.99 – cheaper than some cocktails in a high-end restaurant or bar – on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or online here.
This review was written by a human with no assistance from AI or ChatGTP.
Leave a Reply