To earn some badly needed money when I was in college, I worked as a bartender for the Columbia University Bartending Agency. My boyfriend was the manager of the agency, and to the best of my knowledge, I became the first woman bartender. We all took a course from the head bartender at the Hotel Barclay in Midtown Manhattan. I remember working at a party where a guy came up to the bar and tried to stump me. He asked me to make him a Negroni, and I actually knew how! But that was many years ago, and I have forgotten a lot of what I knew.
As a result, I was thrilled to receive a slim volume of weekly cocktail recipes. What a book – it bowled me over! If you are looking for a hostess or host gift, a stocking stuffer, or a gift for your favorite cocktail lover, look no further! You must check out newly published, Friday Night Cocktails: 52 Drinks to Welcome Your Weekend by A.J. Dean.
The hardcover how-to book is both attractive and easy to follow. Each of the 52 weeks of the year features a cocktail to welcome the weekend.
The relatively simple recipes not only give you the steps to make the drink, but the add-ons also give you one or two variations so you can mix things up over time. Friday Night Cocktails also gives you instructions on how to make various syrups used in making the drinks as well as how to make egg white foam, an ingredient that is showing up in so many cocktails these days. The recipe book is quite comprehensive.
The photos of the garnished drinks in the appropriate glassware make the book even more appealing. They’re stunning!
The cocktails range from classic, traditional (e.g. gin & tonic, kir royale) to new, edgier drinks (e.g. aviation, Paper Plane).
In addition, there are spins on cocktails from the Prohibition-era 1920s (e.g. the pretty pink Clover Club and the bright green Necromancer).
The book is split into four sections, focusing on the seasons of the year, such as a Hot Toddy for winter or a Pina Colada or Blue Hawaiian for summer. Though you certainly don’t have to stick to the recommended seasonality of the cocktails, it’s a fun and useful way to structure the book, especially if you’re planning drinks for a seasonal party.
Friday Night Cocktails creates a wonderful way to usher in the weekend as a celebratory part of the week! Whether you consider the book for yourself or for your giftee, it’s a terrific treat. And no matter if you’re a cocktail novice or expert, 52 Drinks To Welcome Your Weekend will definitely add to your drinks repertoire. When I first received the book, Jeff looked through it page by page, and he liked it a lot. As a matter of fact, he bought a copy to give to his BFF for his upcoming birthday. But we now have loads of new cocktails to try, yum!
Friday Night Cocktails: 52 Drinks To Welcome Your Weekend launched a couple of weeks ago just in time for the holiday season. You can find it on Amazon where it’s priced at $19.95.
This is a great gift idea! My SIL would love it. Thanks!
If you do get it for her, I hope she loves it!
Hi, Allison – It’s fun to know you were a bartender when you were in college! I was an ice cream scooper in the student center at first! Later, when I transferred to University of Michigan, I worked at the Recycling Center where I met my husband. He was working off a speeding ticket by doing public service. Lol! He likes to say, “Speed pays!” This book definitely looks like a delight. I would love to get it for my sister who likes to eat, drink and cook. Would a bottle of wine or champagne be good to go with it as a gift, or should I pair it with ingredients for her favorite mixed drink? I think it’s a margarita. Thanks for this review! – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
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That’s sweet, Angie! If you are thinking about it for your SIL, get an ingredient that would go with a margarita rather than wine or champagne 🙂
Wow! RIGHT up my alley! Gonna order one and then invite you over for a taste test 🙂
I thought about getting it for you when I received this book, but I wasn’t sure if you are “too advanced”, lol. When you are back, come over and check it out first!