Top 10 spirits and cocktail books for autumn
As the leaves turn amber and the evenings grow crisp, there’s no better time to bunk down with a good book – perhaps with a finely crafted cocktail or expertly poured spirit in hand.
From deep dives into the cultural history of rum and whisky to inventive guides on throwing the perfect soju party or crafting a literary-inspired cocktail, these books explore the artistry, science, and stories behind our favourite tipples.
Whether you’re looking to refine your mixing skills, expand your knowledge of global spirits, or simply enjoy a beautifully illustrated celebration of booze, these 10 books hitting shelves this autumn have something to stir everyone’s curiosity.
Soju Party: How to drink (and eat) like a Korean by Irene Yoo
Embracing Korean culture isn’t just about binge-watching K-dramas or perfecting your 10-step K-beauty routine – it’s also about raising a glass (or three) of soju and joining the feast.
Soju Party: How to Drink (and Eat) Like a Korean takes readers behind the sparkle of K-pop and into the real rhythm of Korean life — where food, friends, and fermented spirits steal the show. Expect cocktail recipes, simple snacks, comforting dishes (did someone say kimchi carbonara?), and party-sized recipes like Watermelon Soju Hwachae – all of which will help you get into the swing of eating and drinking like a Korean. It also gives the lowdown on drinking etiquette, and tips for hangover cures.
A History Of Alcoholic Spirits: How Our Favourite Tipples Changed The World by Jamie Ryder
Did you know rum was once the spirit of America, Tequila helped fuel a revolution, and modern advertising owes its swagger to Scotch whisky? Across centuries and continents, spirits have done far more than fill glasses – they’ve shaped politics, culture, and identity.
A History of Alcoholic Spirits: How Our Favourite Tipples Changed the World uncorks the fascinating global story of booze and its influence on civilisation. From mezcal to vodka, baijiu to soju, this book traces how our favourite drinks became cultural icons and catalysts for change. Along the way, you’ll meet visionary distillers, rebellious bootleggers, and moral crusaders who fought to ban the bottle altogether.
The Japanese Way of Whisky by Dave Broom
Award-winning writer Dave Broom takes readers on an intimate, cross-country adventure through Japan’s most captivating whisky distilleries in this personal exploration of what gives Japanese whisky its soul.
Joined by photographer Kohei Take, he uncovers the elusive spirit of Whisky-dō – the philosophy, precision, and artistry that make Japan’s whiskies truly distinct, while diving into distilleries big and small. Rich stories, insightful interviews, and detailed tasting notes bring each dram he discovers to life.
Galaxy Bar Cocktails by Natasha Sideris and Krystian Hordejuk
This isn’t just another cocktail book – it’s a celebration of creativity. Dreamed up by Natasha Sideris, founder of Tashas Group, and Krystian Hordejuk, the alchemist behind Galaxy Bar – the Dubai venue that blends Greek heritage and futuristic elegance – this sleek volume captures the glamour, innovation, and spirit of the acclaimed bar.
With beautiful photography shot by Juliet Dunne throughout, this book is as much a visual feast as a mixology manual. The first half covers the craft – tools, techniques, glassware, and the all-important ice – while the second half turns up the flavour with 60 stellar recipes split into five taste-driven chapters. Each drink comes with notes on flavour profile, skill level, core spirit, and garnish, plus insider sub-recipes for house-made syrups and cordials.
The Rum Never Sets: 300 Years of Royal Navy & London Dock Rum by Alexandre Gabriel and Matt Pietrek
After five years of spirited research, Planteray Rum owner and master blender Alexandre Gabriel has teamed up with rum historian Matt Pietrek to chart the wild, wave-tossed history of navy rum – from ship rations to cultural legend. What began as a passion project inspired by Royal Navy veteran Michael Fogg turned into a full-blown treasure hunt through centuries of naval logs, distilleries, and dusty archives.
The result? A richly detailed, deeply entertaining chronicle that mixes history, science, and a splash of sea salt. With tales of daring sailors, ingenious blenders, and the evolution of one of the world’s most storied spirits, this book is part history, part adventure, raising a glass to the blend that fuelled empires and still anchors rum culture today.
Cosmic Cocktails: Master the Mixology of the Zodiac by The Alchemist
Following the success of The Alchemist’s first book, Cosmic Cocktails: Master the Mixology of the Zodiac features 100 original recipes inspired by the 12 signs of the zodiac.
Each of the bespoke cocktails has been specifically created for each star sign, infused with the distinct personality traits, ruling planets and elemental flair associated with each sign of the zodiac.
For the hopelessly romantic Taurus, The French Kiss blends vodka, pineapple, berries, and a cloud of meringue foam for a bit of flirty fun, while the Ginger Kick has been crafted for any Aries that thrives on adventure, featuring Akrut lime leaf-infused gin, lime juice, ginger beer and ginger foam. Perfectly suited to Sagittarius’s boundless curiosity, The Piña Co Lava Lamp is an adventure in a glass, with rum, coconut, pineapple caviar, and a touch of dry-ice magic.
Get Lit: Cocktails That Bring Your Favorite Books to Life by Elizabeth Sagan
This book is the ultimate happy hour for bookworms and booze lovers alike. Why just read your favourite stories when you can sip them too? With 50 original recipes that combine popular literature with mixology mastery, this clever compendium will help you turn your bookshelf into a bar cart. Whether you’re toasting doomed lovers, scheming with suspenseful spirits, or dialling up the romantasy, Get Lit is the perfect companion for a night in with your favourite literary heroes
Each drink is easy enough for the novice mixologist yet creative enough to impress even the pickiest bibliophile. Equal parts cocktail guide and literary love letter, this book proves that sometimes the best plot twist also comes with a twist of lime.
Tequila: A Tasting Course by Millie Milliken
You might know Tequila comes from the agave plant, but did you know ancient goddesses, wars, and even bats play a part in its story? Award-winning drinks writer Millie Milliken uncovers the art and craft behind this iconic spirit. From the agave’s harvest and the jimadors who tend it, to the distillers shaping its many styles and ages, Milliken takes you on a Mexican journey from precolonial rituals to modern mixology, allowing you to discover Tequila’s deep cultural roots and global revival.
But this isn’t just a history lesson. Of course, there’s tasting involved, too, and the opportunity to learn how glassware, technique, and six distinct flavour profiles reveal Tequila’s surprising complexity. Then you can put your new knowledge to the test with expert cocktail tips, from how to craft the perfect Margarita to the ultimate Paloma, Batanga, and Tequila Sunrise.
Savour by Kristiane Westray
Savour is the modern whisky guide that tosses out the old rules and invites everyone to the table (or the bar). No tweed jackets required, just curiosity and a decent glass. Whether you’re a seasoned sipper or a total newbie, Kristiane Westray leads you on a spirited, globe-trotting adventure through whisky’s bold, diverse world.
With practical tips on tasting (spoiler: it involves some very generous sampling), building your own whisky capsule collection, and a flow chart to help decode your palate, Savour makes whisky exploration as fun as it is flavourful. From Scotland to South Africa, Japan to Mexico, this guide celebrates the distillers, bars, and communities redefining what whisky means today. Equal parts education and invitation, this is the book for anyone ready to swirl, sip, and discover their next favourite dram.
The Comic Book History of the Cocktail: Five Centuries of Mixing Drinks and Carrying On by David Wondrich, illustrated by Dean Kotz
This clever and beautifully illustrated book is all about shaking up history – literally. Drinks historian and award-winning writer David Wondrich has teamed up with illustrator Dean Kotz to serve up a witty journey that narrates a tumultuous and vibrant history of cocktails that stretches through the Age of Exploration, the boozier parts of the Enlightenment and America’s hurly-burly nineteenth century, to the disco years, the cosmo years, and the modern cocktail revolution.
Along the way, you’ll meet history’s greatest (and booziest) innovators, explore centuries of spirited invention, and pick up almost 30 classic and contemporary recipes to boot. With Kotz’s punchy artwork and Wondrich’s razor-sharp storytelling, this isn’t your average history lesson.
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