Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist is a new book by Tim Federle. And as you might have discerned from the name, Tim’s got quite a predilection for puns. This book’s geared toward literary enthusiasts, and features 65 drink recipes, each tied to a particular novel. So expect recipes with names like “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margarita” and “Farenheit 151.”
Like many cocktail-themed books, Tequila Mockingbird reserves a few pages for bar tools and techniques before diving into the recipes. And the cocktail recipes themselves are broken down into categories like Drinks for Dames, Gulps for Guys and Bevvies for Book Clubs. It also includes a handful of nonalcoholic drinks and bar bites.
Some drinks call upon classics like the Sazerac, while others are respectable-sounding originals. But too many cocktails utilize sugary sweet liqueurs — think melon and butterscotch — and call for inordinate amounts of soda or other mixers. So it’s probably a book best suited for your literary-inclined friends who appreciate a casual tipple more so than your drinks-inclined friends who appreciate a casual read.
The book itself is easy-to-digest, nicely-sized and well-illustrated, so it’d be a solid gift if you know any good candidates.
Tequila Mockingbird is available online and in various bookstores, and will run you about $10-15.
