Review: The Mason Jar Cocktail Companion by Shane Carley

Here’s a rather unbelievable thing. Cocktails and Books was asked to review a book about cocktails. I’m pretty sure this is a first for us, so of course given the opportunity how could I say no. It was up to me to make the ultimate sacrifice and review a book about cocktails. So armed with about 3 shelves of alcohol, a new box of mason jar glasses (what can I say, I like to be authentic), about a gallon of orange juice and assorted other ingredients, I set about making this as authentic a review as any of my others ever have been. That being said, yours truly went through the book and made a list of some of my personal favorites that were included in the book. Once that was done, for arguments sake, I chose a few that sounded interesting and I happen to have the ingredients readily available to make. Here are my results.

I found the book pretty easy to navigate, even after having a few drinks. Drink recipes were listed under 8 basic categories… Vodka based, rum based, gin based, tequila based, whiskey based, beer based, Miscellaneous and not to leave anyone out… Mocktails. After a handful of cocktail recipes from each of the major categories and using my family as guinea pigs (hey, I hate to drink alone) we decided that there was something to be said for mason jar cocktails. Do I believe that the glass being used made a difference in the cocktail itself? Not really, no. But then I never pay attention to what glass should be used for which drink. What I do believe may be affected is the atmosphere. Who wouldn’t feel like kicking back and just having fun when drinking out of a major jar?

The cocktail recipes were simple and easy to follow, even for those not quite sure what zesting means or how you would go about doing it for a drink. The ingredients, for the most part, were items that the average person may have readily available at home. The cocktails were incredibly easy to make and due to the fantastic bonus addition of virgin drinks and mocktails, even non-drinkers will find something they can enjoy.

* A few of the drinks made in the process of writing this review were Citrus Sunset, Fuzzy Navel, Hairy Navel, Mudslide, Virgin Mudslide, Apple Tart, White Russian, Tequila hot chocolate, Bay Breeze, Irish coffee and Tequila Sunrise just to name a few and to show variety.