Spirited Women

From the authors of Cocktails in Color comes a revolutionary celebration of the women who have shaped the spirits industry from ancient times to today. 

Alcohol and spirits has long been thought of as a male-dominated field, but the truth is that women have been serving it up for centuries. (Literally—the first distilling technology is believed to have been invented by a woman in 100 CE.) Today, many women are shaking up the industry, from distillers and blenders to bar owners and spirits educators. In this fun, feminist, vividly illustrated book, bar professional Sammi Katz and illustrator Olivia McGiff celebrate the spirit and spirits of 55 of these groundbreaking women with profiles and recipes, in three areas of the industry: Makers (women who are directly involved in the development and production of spirits); Shakers (mixologists and bar owners); and Trailblazers (women who have influenced the spirits world in other ways, such as historians, authors, and entrepreneurs). Each profile is paired with a cocktail recipe that highlights each woman’s story, including the Title IX (a favorite at Portland’s female-owned sports bar The Sports Bra); Casual Brilliance (a take on a Sazerac, inspired by a whiskey distiller in Australia); and Le Donne (which features an amaro revived from near extinction by a family of Italian women). This colorful book of unsung heroines joyfully raises a glass to the dame and the dram! 

This gorgeously illustrated cocktail book celebrates centuries of women’s contributions to spirits and cocktail culture, from the invention of distilling to today’s innovative bar programs. Perfect for anyone in search of drinking gifts for women, this comprehensive bartender book illuminates the often-overlooked stories of women who have revolutionized every aspect of the spirits industry. 

• "Filled with interesting facts, inspiring stories, and vivid illustrations, this history lesson, feminist manifesto, and bounty of cocktails is a vibrant must-read."
  Erin Dagenais, Library Journal
• “Spirited Women is a fun and informative anecdotal look at the surprising and sometimes hard-fought influence of diverse women on every aspect of the liquor industry. It is replete with delectable, cutting-edge cocktail recipes that I, for one, as an enthusiastic bourbon drinker, plan to serve at my next party.”
  Cynthia Nixon, actor, activist, and theater director
• “This fun and feisty showcase of brilliant women in the spirits industry will leave you buzzing with inspiration (and buzzed on delicious cocktail recipes).”
  Jennifer Croll, author of Free the Tipple
• “Sammi and Olivia are sublime storytellers . . . The illustrations and clever recipes are as vibrant as the lives of the accomplished women they celebrate. Spirited Women is an artistic triumph, and I’ll drink to that!”
  Abi Balingit, James Beard Award–winning author of Mayumu
• “Spirited Women is a beautifully illustrated showcase for the inventive, uproarious, daring, and determined women shaking up the cocktail world.”
  Amy Stewart, author of The Drunken Botanist
• “Sammi Katz and Olivia McGiff do a smashing job celebrating a wide swath of spirits and cocktail industry makers and shakers from all over the world . . . Plus, how can we discuss spirited women without toasting to their achievements with a proper cocktail? Each entry gets its own drink. It’s a brilliant format.”
  Amanda Schuster, author of Signature Cocktails