Monkey 47 Gin, Cardamom-Infused St. Germain, Dolin Blanc, Verjus Blanc, Port Wine, Angostura Bitters, Chartreuse Mist
Immerse yourself into this cocktail, and you’ll be transported to a preserved and untamed wilderness state. The New Wilderness, a dystopian novel and the inspiration behind this drink, profiles a mother and her young daughter Agnes, who is wasting away due to the pollution of the metropolis they call home. As a part of an experimental group, the duo manage to flee to the Wilderness State where they learn to live peacefully with the raw nature of the earth. This cocktail is dry and herbal, but with smooth and sweet notes coming from the botanicals, port wine, and honey – representing the sweetness of youth and Agnes’ innocence. This libation is a veritable escape, like walking through a misty forest to the new life that Agnes now leads.
Written by Diane Cooke, 2020
Olive Oil Washed Ketel One Vodka, Tanqueray No. 10 Gin, Flowers Chardonnay, Oso de Oro Dry Vermouth, Elderflower Liqueur
Spirit-forward, dry, fresh, and crisp, this captivating cocktail is an exceptional play on a Vesper Martini and an ode to the only novel ever published by socialite Zelda Fitzgerald, the wife of famous American author F. Scott Fitzgerald. Written in six weeks while Zelda was hospitalized for schizophrenia, it is a semi- autobiographical account of her relationship with Scott, providing insight into their disturbed marriage. It is a vivid and moving story, centered upon the confessional of a notable young woman and aspiring ballerina of the affluent 1920s. Known for her extravagant party hosting, Zelda could always be found with two beverages in hand, a glass of wine and a martini as featured in this cocktail. This drink also captures the sentiment of an era gone by, delivering a spirit-forward experience.
Written by Zelda Fitzgerald, 1932
Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch Whisky, Casa Dragones Joven Tequila, Verjus, Amontillado Sherry, Strawberry Syrup, Peychaud’s Bitters, Delavenne Champagne
With just one sip, take a step into the glamour and glitz of the high society that faux German heiress Anna ‘Delvey’ Sorokin craved. The effervescence of the Champagne, the finesse of the whisky, and the depth of the tequila, combined with the subtle strawberry, give you a taste of the life of luxury that she so desired. This cocktail beautifully captures the creative mindset of the con artist that she was, as captured by her friend Rachel who experienced her rise and fall. Note every detail of this Delvey-inspired drink, from the mug that represents her duplicitous identity to the edible cloud representative of her elaborate schemes.
Written by Rachel DeLoache Williams, 2022
Bacardí 8 Rum, Crème de Cacao, Banana Liqueur, Lemon Juice, Grapefruit Bitters
Inspired by the story of two young girls, Frieda and Bea, living in a fishing village near New York City during The Prohibition Era, suddenly orphaned by the death of their mother. As a local fisherman takes them in, they are introduced to the beauty and perils of the sea. Behold this Caribbean cocktail with palette-pleasing twists including a surprise ode to iridescent seashells and the rumbles of water at the surface. While the cacao and banana liqueur stand for their sweet sisterhood, the rum is representative of Frieda’s determination to make a better life for herself and her sister, a risky endeavor which she is lured into like a siren song.
Written by Ann Howard Creel, 2016
Don Julio Reposado Tequila, Grapefruit Oleo Saccharum, Lime Juice, Poblano Ancho Reyes, Mole Bitters
A rebellious tequila concoction, this title translates from the common Spanish expression, ‘como agua para chocolate’, a metaphorical phrase for burning passion. Cue this novel’s protagonist Tita de la Garza, who was submissive and obedient in her family role until she faces a fiery love for a man, Pedro. This transformation is represented by an unexpected tartness and chocolate bitter–infused spice. Forbidden to be with her true love, Tita expresses her burning passion through her fantastical cooking. In the final chapter, Tita prepares Chiles en Nogada, a nod to the cocktail’s Poblano Ancho Reyes. During the meal, the passion is so strong that they soon catch fire and burn in the ranch leaving only their ashes behind – an act that is quintessentially captured in the cocktail by the volcanic sea salt.
Written by Laura Esquivel, 1992
Johnnie Walker High Rye, Rémy Martin VSOP Cognac, Cynar, Walnut-Fig Syrup, Lemon Juice, Egg White
Recognized as ‘the first modern queer woman’, Anne Lister was an avid traveler and significant landowner for her time. Though unpublished, her diaries belong to the UNESCO Memory of the World Program, and this cocktail’s ingredients speak to her life, travels, and her love for whiskies and cognacs. This drink’s uniquely sour, sweet, and flavorful elements are thoughtfully paired with a fig foam featuring her signature as an ode to Anne Lister’s diaries. While Anne’s life was fraught due to her sexual orientation; despite all odds, she married her long-time lover Ann Walker. Cynar aperitivo is a great symbol of Anne’s life, as artichokes have a tender heart protected by strong outer layers, representing hope, love, and prosperity.
Never Published; Written by Anne Lister, 1806-1840
Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, Pineapple Liqueur, Amaro Angelano, Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic, Hibiscus Foam
T his sweet-dry, refreshing Mezcal highball is a tribute to the complexities of family life featured in the novel, Caramelo. Offering a unique blend of flavors and textures parallels the narrative. Heroine Ceyala “Lala” Reyes and her family—including aunts, uncles, mother, father, and Lala’s six older brothers—pack up three cars and, in one wild ride together, drive from Chicago to her grandparents’ house in Mexico City for the summer. The multigenerational and diverse family portrait offers a whirlwind exploration of history, family, and love. Similarly, this cocktail’s ingredients are distinct. Mezcal as a representational nod to the family’s Mexican heritage and hibiscus as a powerful symbol of love and protection, wrapped over the cocktail’s contents.
Written by Sandra Cisneros, 2002
Michter’s Rye Whiskey, Oso de Oro Dry Vermouth, Raisin-Maple Syrup, Angostura Bitters
Delicate and spirit-forward, this dry-sweet version of a Manhattan offers a fruit-focused and botanical profile, with a rich finish. And, just like Lady Randolph Churchill, this cocktail is fierce. Artistically gifted and politically shrewd, Lady Randolph Churchill lived a modern life, shaping her husband’s political career and her son, Winston’s rise to the British Parliament. Similarly, this recipe defies expectations, evolving through many early versions of the Manhattan. That Churchill Woman paints a portrait of the difficult—and sometimes impossible—balance among love represented by the subtle sweetness of vermouth, freedom by the richness of whiskey, and obligation by the Angostura bitters, capturing the spirit of an unforgettable woman and cocktail.
Written by Stephanie Barron, 2019
Angel’s Envy Bourbon, Cacao Liqueur, Citrus Distillate, Peach Bitters
Delight in this delicious homage to an Old Fashioned, comprising four elements dedicated to the four March sisters in this classic, heartwarming, coming-of-age story, loosely based on the author’s own life. For fiery and ambitious Jo, there’s bourbon, the unspoken focal point. For Amy, a crumpled glass, representative of being the most flawed, yet beautiful sister, plagued by her own vanity. Chocolate stands for the eldest, Meg, romantic and sweet by nature. And peach for sensitive and shy Beth. The result? A sweet, opulent & full-bodied cocktail that delights the senses.
Written by Louisa May Alcott, 1868-1869
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