Wednesday 18 November 2015

Wild Drinks And Cocktails

I know many people at this time of year are waiting for a frost so that they can gather some sloes with which to make sloe gin and I've seen many people mentioning toffee vodka just lately on their blogs, whereas in summertime it's elderflower cordial. I've yet to have a go at making anything along these lines so when I was asked if I'd like to review Wild Drinks and Cocktails by Emily Han and published by Fair Winds Press, I was delighted.


If you're a fan of foraging then this book's for you. With chapters on Crafting Wild Drinks, Teas, Juices, and Lemonades, Syrups, Squashes, and Cordials, Oxymels, Shrubs, and Switchels, Infusions, Bitters, and Liqueurs, Wines and Punches and Fizzy Fermentations you're bound to find a recipe to use up anything you may find in the hedgerow or even in your garden.


The introduction gives useful information such as what to look for when you're harvesting, tools to use and cleaning, sanitizing, and sterilizing so it's ideal for a beginner like me.


Recipes range from basic things like Lavender Tea for Stress Relief through to more adventurous concoctions like Peach and Pecan Bourbon and Rhubarb and Rose Sour.


A good one for the coming season is Mulled Wine.


One thing I would say is that this book is by an American author so some things may not be as readily available in the UK as they would be in the US, such as prickly pears. I'm sure you'd agree that this Prickly Pear Squash looks very tempting though.


There's some beautiful photography throughout the book illustrating the wonderful drinks which can be crafted.


My blueberries did quite well this year so who knows, if I get a decent harvest next year I might just give this Blueberry Soda recipe a try.


This would be a great book for you if you're a forager and would like some inspiration on what to make with the bounties you collect. I shall be giving quite a few of these recipes a go myself.

To order Wild Drinks and Cocktails at the discounted price of £11.99 including p&p* (RRP: £14.99), telephone 01903 828503 or email mailorders@lbsltd.co.uk and quote the offer code APG381. 

*UK ONLY - Please add £2.50 if ordering from overseas.

28 comments:

  1. Wow...that sounds like a lot of work. I just go down to the liquor store!

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    1. Home made food and drink can be so much healthier and often cheaper than store bought, not to mention the fun there is in making it.

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  2. Sounds as though there is a lot of delicious inspiration!! I hope that you get to make some of the lovely things in this book! xx

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    1. I love books like this as it really does inspire you to have a go yourself. There's some recipes I've got my eye on so I'm sure I'll be giving some of them a try.

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  3. looks a great book, will add it to my list, thanks :-)

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    1. There's some delcicious looking recipes so I hope you get to try some out, there's things for all seasons.

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  4. I'm more of a sparkling water than a flavoured drink person, but the lavender tea sounds quite interesting - we could all do with a bit of de-stressing every once in a while (some of us more often then others!)

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    1. Ha ha, you're so right. There's things in this book I'd have never thought to make, some very interesting looking drinks. I've never made anything like this before but I'm very tempted to have a go now.

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  5. I used to make jam with all my blackcurrants but it was far too much. So now I make cordial with them. Sometimes I mix the currants with apples to make it a bit lighter.

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    1. I've never made cordial but I've see a few people mention making it on their blogs and it's certainly a solution to making too much jam.

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  6. Sitting here on a wild windswept, rainy day has me longing to read that, how fascinating it sounds, I do love all things foraging!xxx

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    1. I'm always happy to settle down with a good book on days like these, it sounds like we're experiencing the same weather conditions.

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  7. It sounds like a fantastic book, lots of inspiration in there, and lovely photographs as well. I hope you find a good drink or two to make. CJ xx

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    1. There's lots of drinks I fancy having a go at, I shall have to put notes in my diary of what I need and when otherwise I'll end up missing the boat.

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  8. I am indeed a forager. I make sloe gin each year, along with other things.
    I think this may be on my Christmas list, as it is something I would use.

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    1. Sloe gin is very popular though it's something I've never made as we tend not to drink things like that. There's lots of great recipes in this book which I do fancy giving a go though, it may be just the inspiration I need.

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  9. That looks, and sounds, like a good book if you're into that sort of thing, which I have to say I'm not. Flighty xx

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    1. I haven't been either but there's a few recipes which take my eye so I really need to make more of an effort.

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  10. My Sloe Gin is already nearly ready, steadily going pinker. It will probably be OK to drink in about a month from now. I think it would be too late to gather Sloes now - since there has still been no frost here, the Sloes have shrivelled up on the trees and are definitely "Past their Use By date"!

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    1. I didn't realise that the sloes wouldn't hang around for a frost. I've never made sloe gin, I doubt it would be something we'd drink but I don't know where any grow in any case. You should be ok for Christmas if it's nearly ready.

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  11. Mmmmm - himself is the brewer in this household and I think he would enjoy flicking through such a book for ideas. I can't help but wonder what oxymels and switchels are Jo.

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    1. There's some weird and wonderful concoctions in the book, lots of new ideas. I didn't know what oxymels and switchels were either so you're not alone, they're both vinegar drinks with health benefits.

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  12. Thank you for your lovely review, Jo! I hope you enjoy the recipes.

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    1. You're welcome. Thank you for popping by. I'm sure I'm going to enjoy making some of the recipes.

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  13. Looks an interesting book, I love a bit of foraging and often make sloe gin :-)

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    1. I think I really need to step it up a gear where foraging's concerned, especially if I want to make some of these recipes.

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  14. Looks a very interesting book Jo, with good recipes and photo's too.
    Thanks for reviewing it... and I hope you do enjoy the blueberry soda.

    All the best Jan

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    1. I just hope I get enough blueberries off my plants next year to make it. The photos in the book are really lovely, they do make you want to give the recipes a try.

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