Fall is in full swing, and it’s the perfect time of year to get cozy with a great book and an (arguably) even greater beverage! We’ve curated a list of cocktail and mocktail recipes from the DeKalb Public Library’s collection (find the books in the adult nonfiction section under 641.874) and paired them with compelling novels from our fiction shelves. Whether you’re drawn to the deep, woodsy notes of bourbon or a sunny, sweet mocktail, this list offers a perfect pairing for every taste. Craft your drink, settle into your favorite reading nook, and enjoy a novel and a nightcap!
Bourbon and Cherry Slush + A Death in Door County by Annelise Ryan
Most Midwesterners know Door County as “Cherryland USA,” a title it earned in 1927 thanks to its booming tart cherry industry. This cocktail and book pairing celebrates that legacy with a twist. The bourbon and cherry slush blends the classic old fashioned with the sweet nostalgia of a summer cherry slushie. Similarly, A Death in Door County takes the familiar structure of a murder mystery and adds a whimsical dose of cryptids. Unexpected yet delightful, both the drink and the novel are playful spins on beloved classics.
How to Cocktail from America’s Test Kitchen
Bourbon Cherry Slush
– 8 oz Bourbon
– ½ cup frozen orange juice concentrate
– 1 tsp old fashioned aromatic bitters
– 1 lb (4 cups) frozen sweet cherries
– 20 oz (5 cups) ice cubes
– Orange wedges
– Cocktail cherries
Add bourbon, orange juice concentrate, bitters, cherries, and ice to blender (in that order) and process until smooth, about 1 min, scraping down sides of blender jar as needed. Pour into chilled old-fashioned glasses. Garnish with orange wedges and cocktail cherries and serve.
Blackberry-Lavender French Soda (Mocktail) + Cooking For Picasso by Camille Aubray
This book and cocktail are both celebrations of unexpected, yet perfect, pairings. In the Blackberry-Lavender French Soda, floral notes of lavender blend beautifully with the sweet fruitness of blackberry, creating a mocktail that’s as vibrant as it is refreshing. Similarly, Cooking for Picasso brings together characters whose lives intertwine in the sun-drenched landscapes of southern France, revealing the beauty of unlikely friendships and the healing power of connection.
Blackberry-Lavender French Soda (Mocktail) from Zero Proof by Elva Ramirez
– 1 ½ oz blackberry puree
– 1 oz lavender syrup
– 4 to 6 oz club soda, chilled
– ½ oz half-and-half
– 3 blackberries skewered on a pick, for garnish
In a cocktail shaker, combine the blackberry puree and lavender syrup; add a few ice cubes and shake briefly. Add the club soda and strain into a chilled 12-ounce Collins glass filled with ice. Slowly add the half-and-half so that it creates an ombre effect. Garnish with the blackberries.
Mary Pickford Cocktail + A Touch of Stardust by Kate Alcott
Mary Pickford, a silent film icon, Hollywood trailblazer, and now the namesake of a classic cocktail, helped define the golden age of cinema. In A Touch of Stardust, aspiring screenwriter Julie Crawford takes the only job she can find: working in the studio publicity office during the hectic (and sometimes volatile) filming of Gone with the Wind. One real woman, one fictional, both chasing dreams in the golden era of Hollywood. A perfect blend of stardust and spirit.
Mary Pickford Cocktail from Cocktails Across America by Diane Lapis and Anne Peck-Davis
– 1 ½ oz white rum
– 1 ½ oz pineapple juice
– 1 tsp grenadine
– 1 dash Maraschino liqueur
Add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Cider Sbagliato + Lilith by Nikki Marmery
This bold, autumn-inspired twist on a classic cocktail is the perfect match for a reimagining of one of history’s most iconic couples: Adam and Eve. Lilith, inspired by ancient myths and scriptures, is a daring and thought-provoking novel, blending a rich literary voice with a fiercely compelling heroine who refuses to be forgotten. Both the drink and the story are unapologetically dramatic (and almost impossible to put down).
Cider Sbagliato from The Cocktail Workshop by Steven Grasse and Adam Erace
– 1 oz Campari
– 1 oz sweet vermouth
– Dry cider to top, about 4 oz
– Expressed lemon peel, for garnish
Set up the glass with ice. Add the ingredients and briskly stir with a bar-spoon for 5 seconds. Express the lemon peel over the surface of the drink , run it around the rim, drop it in the cocktail and serve.
Rainbow Punch (Mocktail) + The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
With a name like Rainbow Punch, this mocktail deserves a story just as bright, bubbly, and full of fun. In The Rom-Commers, aspiring screenwriter Emma Wheeler finally gets her big break when she is asked to co-write with a grumpy Hollywood legend. As the two clash and collaborate, their script and their chemistry start to take on a life of their own. Like the drink, this romance is a delightful mix of sweetness, sparkle, and pure goodness!
Rainbow Punch (Mocktail) from The New Craft of the Cocktail by Dale Degroff
– 3 oz fresh orange juice
– ½ oz fresh lime juice
– 3 oz pineapple juice
– 1 oz simple syrup
– ¼ oz grenadine
– 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
– 1 oz club soda
– Bordeaux cherry, for garnish
– Orange slice, for garnish
Shake all ingredients (except the club soda and garnishes) and strain into a glass filled with ice. Top with club soda and garnish with the cherry and orange slice.
If you enjoy a good cocktail, you’ll love our upcoming program: Whiskey 101 featuring Whiskey Acres! On November 3 at 6:00 PM, learn about the basics of whiskey production and tasting, and the past, present, and future of a thriving local business. We look forward to seeing you there.
Have more questions or need recommendations? Contact the reference desk at [email protected]. We are happy to help!