Whether you’re looking for a new recipe or a great gift, these boozy books have you covered
Canadian Spirits: The Essential Cross-country Guide to Distilleries, Their Spirits and Where to Imbibe Them by Stephen Beaumont and Christine Sismondo (Nimbus Publishing, $29.95)
Two of Canada’s top spirits writers have compiled a comprehensive guide to the assortment of hooch produced from coast to coast to coast in this country. This is the essential book about the industry’s history and its future, covering more than 160 producers ranging from the behemoth Hiram-Walker in Windsor, Ontario, to Vancouver’s tiny Odd Society Spirits. Available October 31.
Great Northern Cocktails by Shawn Soole (Mixellany, $33)
The Victoria-based barman explores all that is shaken, stirred, muddled and mixed across Canada in more than 130 recipes from top bartenders from Victoria to Halifax. The book also includes bartending tips, a range of easy-to-follow homemade ingredients, and a glossary so even novice mixers can follow along. October 1.
Craft Cocktails: Seasonally Inspired Drinks and Snacks from Our Sipping Room by Geoff Dillon and Whitney Roroson (Penguin Canada, $26.95)
The founder of Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers and leader of Ontario’s craft distilling movement has gathered a collection of cocktails for every season and recipes for the perfect snacks to enjoy with them. Think: Royal Velvet cocktail with Roasted Cranberry Flatbreads and Blackberry-Topped Brie. October 1.
The Martini Cocktail: A Meditation on the World’s Greatest Drink, with Recipes, by Robert Simonson (Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale, $24.99)
The first book in decades to celebrate and explore the history of this iconic cocktail comes from one of the most prolific drinks writers around. It includes 50 recipes, including one for the first martini recipe published in 1888, as well as modern versions by the world’s best bartenders. Out now.
How to Be Sober and Keep Your Friends: A Helpful Guide by Flic Everett (Quadrille, $28.99)
Tackling the topical issue of sobriety with wit, humour and helpful tips, this is the book you need to navigate all those awkward social occasions when you’re not drinking, but everyone else is. December 17.
