Wetting Your Whistle

We have an Irish cousin staying with us this weekend, which means I'm on duty for making sure the glasses are never empty.  With alcohol being first and foremost on my mind at the moment, I thought I would show you a couple of relevant books on the subject.  

  published by New Holland, 2011, £16.99

Jugs by Steve Quirk is a collection of punches you can make in jugs or punch bowls.  The introduction states that "punches are believed to have originated in Jamaica in the mid-seventeenth century and were rum-based."  For those of you who like a good punch, of the alcoholic type, you will be amazed by the variety in this book.  I never knew how much you could do with a jigger of rum.  Recipes that will have you dipping into the punch bowl include:  

• Phi Beta Blueberry
• Tropical Hooter Punch
• Swingin' in the Trees
• Dancing Dutchman
• Irish Apple Bowl

published by Adams Media, 2012, £14.99

The premise behind Edible Cocktails by Natalie Bovis is that if your food is fresh, local and homemade, why shouldn't your cocktails be, too?  I had never thought of it that way, but she has a point.  Natalie Bovis is otherwise known as The Liquid Muse - and she knows her mixes. Her book is full of surprises that will have you rethinking what you put into your cocktails.  She adeptly shows you how to make your own syrups, bitters, garnishes, jams and jellies.  (Jams and jellies give a rich body to a cocktail, in case you were wondering). Recipes to wet your whistle include:

• Homemade Grenadine
• Tuscan Refresher
• Spring Sherry Cobbler
• Homemade Irish Cream
• Homemade Sweet and Sour Mix
• Holiday Ice Wreath