3 New Books For The Drink Obsessed

Cozy season is here. Bets are, your couch and comfy clothes beckon you to cuddle up with a good book (and drink) to ride out the winter.

Thankfully, a brigade of great new booze books are here to help pair with all of the above.

There’s a definitive (and beautifully illustrated) guide to natural wine, Brian Freedman’s dive into drinking and climate change, and a drinkstagrammer’s guide to visually inspired cocktails. Settle in, cancel your plans, grab a drink, and get reading.

Crushed by Brian Freedman

Not to cast a shadow over your happy hour, but climate change is increasingly (and quickly) impacting what’s in our glass. In his first book, travel and wine writer Brian Freedman tours around the world, digging deep into how changing climates are affecting production at every stage.

Stories trot the globe, from how Château Lassègue resurrected their vines after brutal hail storms in Bordeaux (an endeavor that consultants thought was foolish and impossible) to overcast England’s promising future with cold climate grapes. Each story is informative and eye-opening, filled with an enthralling cast of characters and how they’re sparring with climate change in their own ways. While it’s not a particularly positive topic, it’s a page-turner — as Freedman puts it, “this isn’t a book of unrelenting struggle….over the years I’ve learned that the people who choose to work in wine and spirits production are often some of the smartest and most resourceful in the world.”

The World of Natural Wine by Aaron Ayscough

Recently, the natural wine world has been plagued with misconceptions. Some dub bottles in the category as simply barnyard juice, others label them a passing fad.

In his beautiful new book, Aaron Ayscough debunks any misnomers about natural wine, all while telling the story of some of the world’s most thoughtful, obsessive, and imaginative producers.

(Including some personal favorites: The Loire’s Alexandre Bain, Jura’s Tissot, Beaujolais’ Gang of Four, Domaine Derain pre- and post-Altaber, Vouette & Sorbee Champagne — the list goes on! So many producers you shouldn’t be sleeping on.)

Outside of makers the book is part resource, part coffee table tome, filled with everything from in-depth looks at winemaking processes to full page images of the faces who make natural wine and the land they work with. He expertly catalogs natural wine’s inception to the lush, living state it is in today. No matter how you feel about natural wine, it’s a must read.

Twist by Jordan Hughes of High Proof Preacher

Chances are you’ve scrolled past Jordan’s beautiful cocktail imagery, whether you’re a follower of his Instagram account, @HighProofPreacher, or simply spotted his work alongside any of the brands he’s worked with — Grey Goose, Patron, Hendricks Gin, and Jack Daniels among them. (Heard of those?)

His new book (his first!) starts by laying out the basics — classic cocktail recipes and the anatomy of a well stocked bar – then dives into recipes, both new and classic. Take a second to appreciate his self-shot imagery, though his original cocktail recipes are equally as creative: think warming Scotch-and-wine toddies and coffee-and-pineapple rum drinks.

There’s something for everything in the pages, from easy, three-ingredient drinks for the beginner (or the lazy) and more complicated options for those who like a challenge. Disclaimer: reading this book won’t give you Hughes’ photography skills, though it’ll certainly help you craft photo-worthy cocktails.