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Book Review: Go Ahead, Make My Drink: 60 Recipes Inspired By The Best Of Film and Television
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Go Ahead, Make My Drink review

Go Ahead, Make My Drink
60 Recipes Inspired By the Best of Film and Television
Hardcover
Written by Anthony Marinese
Illustrated by Horacio Cassinelli
Publisher: Insight Editions
Publication Date: October 18, 2016
Cover Price: $19.99

Whenever we have a party at my house, we always pick a “signature” drink to make, as if we’re hosting some kind of David Tutera-coordinated extravaganza. I’m constantly scouring the Internet for movie- and TV-themed drink inspirations, which is why Go Ahead, Make My Drink: 60 Recipes Inspired By the Best of Film and Television by Anthony Marinese was a book I was 100 percent interested in checking out.

This 144-page full-color hardcover recipe book from Insight Editions was even cooler than I expected, mainly because a lot of the properties they selected are ones I’m into — Star Trek, Star Wars and the like — but it’s also illustrated! Each drink has its recipe with instructions, accompanied by explanatory text on its inspiration, a photograph of the prepared item, and an adorable full-color illustration by Horacio Cassinelli either of the drink alone or of the beverage with something from the film/TV show, such as a character or prop.

The book is divided into “The Classics” and “Some New Classics.” The former are time-honored mixes like the “Screwdriver,” as well as those included just for their novelty appeal — perhaps because it’s one that a character is known for imbibing, such the “Orange Whip” from The Blues Brothers and the “Vesper Martini” from the James Bond franchise. The New Classics are recipes that the author, a long-time bartender, created specifically for this project. This is where this book really goes wild, with some complicated creations for Ghostbusters with a “Toasted Stay Puft” garnished with a fire-toasted marshmallow, and Evil Dead with a “Boomstick” containing an absinthe rinse. But, there’s also plenty of simpler yet fanciful 3-4 ingredient drinks, such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show‘s Sweet Transvestite, which is more presentation than mixology capability.

There’s plenty of SciFi, Fantasy, and Horror properties represented in this collection, such as Game Of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Big Trouble In Little China, Doctor Who, and The Shining, but there’s also plenty of classic Hollywood as well, like The Wizard of Oz and Casablanca. So, this is really appealing to movie and TV fans in general.

The Table of Contents contains the property name (for example, Groundhog Dog) with the drink’s name beneath it, which makes it much easier to look up each item based on its theme. After the author’s introduction, there’s a note regarding the various techniques described in the book, as well as an area with photographs that explains the different tools suggested one utilizes to make these concoctions. As Marinese states, if you know what each tool is for, it will be easier to improvise if you don’t have it on hand. The back matter includes an Liquor Index, that way you can look up drinks by their alcohol components.

This is a very well-crafted book that is not only utilitarian, but attractive and fun. If you enjoy making themed libations, whether for parties or for your own amusement, Go Ahead, Make My Drink can provide you with plenty of options, even if you have only limited drink-making skills. Also, thanks to its descriptions and illustrations, I’d imagine this book would be a great novelty gift to give any movie/TV buff, since it makes a great, quick read, as well as a conversation piece.

Matter of fact, I’ve had a few friends over in the last few weeks who spotted this book on my coffee table, and each one of them ended up looking through it, and it did, in fact, create great conversations about movies, TV, and drinks. A few people even told me they were going to pick up this book when it’s released. My colleague and forever gal pal Athena (GoD’s Olympus Athens) moonlighted as a bartender after we graduated college, so one day when she came over to hang out with me, she looked through the book and helped me try recipes. It was an impromptu situation, so I didn’t have all the ingredients or tools, plus my kitchen counter was a mess, so no photos. But, Athena suggested we properly prepare, and then gather up GoD’s NY/NJ staff and have a tasting of some of the drinks, including the Planet Of The Apes‘s selection “Dr. Zaius” for our very own Dr. Zaius! That would be a great idea for anyone who likes to host parties, and have a cool time with friends.

Go Ahead, Make My Drink: 60 Recipes Inspired By the Best of Film and Television gets a big thumbs up, and Athena and I both agree that it definitely belongs in our 2016 Holiday Gift Guide for Books (to be posted at Geeks Of Doom next month).

FYI – The book (Trim Size: 8 x 7) is only $14.11 right now on Amazon (down from the $19.99 cover price).

Celebrate your favorite movies and television shows with this stylish and fun cocktail guide featuring delicious recipes and adorable illustrations.

From the Cosmopolitans on Sex and the City and the absinthe in Moulin Rouge to the Big Lebowski’s White Russians and James Bond’s martinis, this is the ultimate guide to the most famous cocktails in pop culture. Concocted by San Francisco bartender and cocktail expert Anthony Marinese, this manual contains beverages specially invented as tributes to notable television series and cult films. Prepare delicious concoctions inspired by Game of Thrones, Rocky Horror Picture Show, the Walking Dead, Back to the Future, and many more! Complete with colorfully whimsical illustrations, this is the ultimate complement to your next TV binge or movie screening party.

Preview Pages

[Preview pages courtesy of Insight Editions. Used with permission.]

Go Ahead, Make My Drink cover

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