Reviews

Ginger Bliss and the Violet Fizz: A Cocktail Lover's Guide to Mixing Drinks Using New and Classic Liqueurs by A.J. Rathbun

displacedcactus's review

informative lighthearted fast-paced

This is a handy book to have on your shelf if, like me, you buy a liqueur because it sounds interesting, or it was in one cool recipe you found, and now you're not sure what to do with it. There's a wide array of recipes here, grouped by the main flavor profile -- ie citrus, spice, herbal, etc. Some of the recipes look a little iffy and I don't always agree with Rathbun's decision on what to shake vs. stir, but there's definitely enough in here to be worthwhile.

I honestly recommend skimming most of the flavor text. Although there's some good information about the origins of some of the drinks and the liqueurs themselves, a lot of it is fluff that is trying too hard to be cheeky, and which fell flat for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol

Don't go into this book expecting any sort of eyes-open examination of the colonialist history of certain ingredients or drinks. Rathbun is just here to have a good time and is at times a little glib in how he glosses over things.