James Bond-inspired cocktails, a how-to guide on perfecting the home bar and a manual on non-alcoholic serves – these are our top spirits books for autumn 2018.

SB presents our pick of top books for those autumn months

As the clocks change and the autumn evenings draw in, what could be better than curling up with a good book?

This season there are new books exploring non-alcoholic cocktails, a guide into the world of spirits and liqueurs, and a nerd-friendly cocktail book that takes inspiration from sci-fi fiction and fantasy.

Our selection also takes in vermouth, a comprehensive selection of drinks dedicated to the nightcap and a James Bond-inspired tome.

Click through the following pages to discover our selection of the top new spirits books to hit the shelves this season.

Have you read a new book that deserves a spot in our line-up? Let us know in the comments section below.

Shaken – Drinking with James Bond & Ian Fleming

James Bond fans can now indulge in a new book that includes 50 cocktail recipes inspired by both Ian Fleming’s life and the adventures of James Bond.

Bar entrepreneurs Mia Johansson, Bobby Hiddleston and Edmund Weil, who founded Soho venue Swift with Rosie Stimpson, have penned the book in collaboration with The Ian Fleming Estate and Ian Fleming Publications.

Ten of these serves come from the books themselves, while Johansson and Hiddleston created 40 new recipes inspired by the “people, places and plots” of the original novels. Weil, who is related to Fleming, produced the copy.

Shaken – Drinking with James Bond & Ian Fleming is published by Mitchell Beazley and available to buy now on Amazon for £11.20 (US$14.80). 

That’s The Spirit! By Jonathan Ray

The latest book from Spectator’s drinks editor Jonathan Ray delves into the world of spirits and liqueurs. The sequel to Ray’s Drink More Fizz! takes a look at 100 of his favourite hard liquors and features insider tales about the producers and how best to drink them.

The book takes in whiskies both familiar and surprising, gin and its Dutch counterpart genever, underrated grappa, decadent absinthe and plenty of rum.

That’s The Spirit! is published by Hardie Grant Books and is available to pre-order on Amazon for £14.99 (US$19). It will be released on 15 November.

The Seedlip Cocktail Book by Ben Branson

The first mover in the non-alcoholic ‘spirit’ category, Seedlip, has unveiled its first cocktail book featuring 100 non-alcoholic recipes for drinks enthusiasts to recreate at home.

The book, written by Seedlip founder Ben Branson, includes recipes from the non-alcoholic distilled spirit brand and some of the world’s leading bartenders, as well as insight into their ethos, technique and ingredients.

The Seedlip Cocktail Book is published by Penguin Random House and available to buy on Amazon from 8 November 2018 for £14.99 (US$19).

Are You There God? It’s me, Margarita by Tim Federle

The long-awaited follow-up to Tequila Mockingbird features a summary of 50 new literary-inspired cocktails, 10 non-alcoholic drinks, eight new bar bites, and an array of drinking games.

Filled with hilarious puns, the book comes with duo-toned whimsical illustrations from Lauren Mortimer.

Cocktails include Fifty Shades of Grey Goose, Little Soused on the Prairie, Tender Is the Nightcap, A Room With Vermouth, Go Get a Scotch, and more.

Are You There God? It’s me, Margarita is published by Running Press and available to purchase on Amazon for £10.99 (US$14.50).

The Home Bar: From simple bar carts to the ultimate in home bar design and drinks by Henry Jeffreys

Henry Jeffreys takes you through every aspect of the home bar, from which drinks to include, glassware and fridges, to cocktail recipes from leading bartenders around the world.

Featuring a foreword from Alexandre Ricard, CEO of French drinks group Pernod Ricard, the comprehensive book is the perfect accomplice to any budding drinks fan with a dream of building their own home bar.

The Home Bar is published by Jacqui Small and available to pre-order from Amazon for £25 (US$33). It will be released on 18 October.

Nightcap: More than 40 Cocktails to Close Out Any Evening by Kara Newman

Those who are a partial to a pre-bed drink can find 40 recipes dedicated to the nightcap to keep you busy for many nights to come. Penned by Kara Newman, the spirits editor at Wine Enthusiast, you can find drinks to keep you going, to help you to sleep and some that can replicate a dessert.

The foil-accented book features classics such as the creamy Brandy Alexander and twists on the Manhattan, as well as a new serves such as the Open & Shut, which combines amaro and Cognac.

Nightcap is published by Chronicle Books and is available to pre-order for £11.34 (US$14) on Amazon. It will be released on 16 October.

The Geeky Chef Drinks by Cassandra Reeder

Channel your inner geek with this collection of cocktail recipes from the worlds of Game of Thrones, The Legend of Zelda, Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Firefly and more.

Fans of comics, video games, books and movies can sip their way through drinks from their favourite sci-fi and fantasy worlds including Flanders’ Planters Punch from The Simpsons, Pumpkin Juice from Harry Potter and the Sonic Screwdriver from Doctor Who.

Home cook Cassandra Reeder has a number of popular cookbooks with the geek in mind and has extended into drinks with the launch of The Geeky Chef Drinks.

The Geeky Chef Drinks is published by Race Point Publishing and is available for pre-order on Amazon for £14.99 (US$19). It will launch on 18 October.

The Book of Vermouth by Shaun Byrne and Gilles Lapalus

Winemaker Gilles Lapalus and bartender Shaun Byrne have teamed up on a new book dedicated to vermouth.

The Book of Vermouth explores the drink and takes a look at the essentials of vermouth, from the grape varieties and production to the botanicals and wormwood – the key ingredient to vermouth.

Featuring over 100 classic and modern cocktail recipes, the book also provides a section dedicated to the many different ways to drink, serve and store vermouth.

The Book of Vermouth is published by Hardie Grant Books and is available to buy on Amazon for £20 (US$26).