Among the Garten’s, Oliver’s, and Child’s lies a series of books that rules over all of them. They’re my holy grail. Let’s just say that if my house were to catch on fire, after rescuing my dog and my bottle of Tocca’s Stella perfume, I would make a desperate dash to grab these treasures from becoming ash.
Which culinary master has warranted such high esteem? Tim Federle and he’s not a chef.
Who exactly is Tim Federle? He describes himself as a “Grown up theater kid,” who “lives and drinks in New York City” and is writing the television adaptation of High School Musical. In a nutshell, he will be my future best friend and spirit animal. Of course none of this has to do with food but Federle’s books don’t focus on meals for the kitchen.
Tim Federle wrote mixology books with literary twists. Pun completely intended on “twist.”
Think of your favorite classic novel. Perhaps it’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Jane Eyre, or even Pride and Prejudice. He has a drink inspired by the novel and all of the cocktails’ names? Puns galore. Be prepared to indulge your inner nerd while drinking some amazing spirits.
Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist
My first foray into Tim Federle’s world of literary cocktails was with my purchase of Tequila Mockingbird. My love of To Kill a Mockingbird should not come as any surprise since I pretty much can recite the entire novel and practically named Atticus Finch the sexiest man in all literature. So of course when I discovered this book at a local boutique, I immediately purchased it alongside candles I didn’t really need and a vase I have yet to use.
Unlike the vase, I never regretted my purchase of Tequila Mockingbird.
Have a friend who adores the tragic romance between Romeo and Juliet? Make them a “Romeo and Julep.” Loved anything by Gabriel Garcia Marquez? Pour yourself a “One Hundred Beers of Solitude.” Perhaps you teach Frankenstein in your senior AP English Lit class. Like my good friend, Monica, celebrate getting through Mary Shelly’s gothic tale and her students’ bout of senioritis with “Drankenstein.”
Just like a standard cost of living raise, you deserve it.
Purchase Tequila Mockingbird
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margarita?
Someone please gift this to Judy Blume NOW.
Tim Federle gifts even more literary inspired cocktails for our reading and drinking pleasure.
Let’s be honest, we all should have been drunk while reading the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy. Now you can be with “Fifty Shades of Grey Goose.” I’m fairly certain that drinking that will make reading lines like, “Desire pools dark and deadly in my groin” feel like Shakespeare.
Actually, strike that. No amount of alcohol can accomplish that.
Purchase Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margarita
Hickory Daiquiri Dock
I love to buy children’s books for expecting parents – Goodnight, Moon; The Kissing Hand; Go the F**k to Sleep.
While there is no greater gift than that of a child, alcohol sometimes comes a close second.
In Hickory Daiquiri Dock, Tim Federle gives the gift of nursery-style cocktails to new parents, which will likely come in handy when you have to listen to “Baby Shark” for the twentieth time that hour.
Why clean out poop from a bathtub when you can do it while sipping on “Rum-A-Dub-Dub?” Don’t just be a bitchy parent. Be a basic bitchy parent with the help of “Ring Around the Rosé.” Federle includes both illustrations and cocktail-inspired takes on the nursery rhymes, so you could still read this to your child.
Of course, you couldn’t if your toddler is “unbelievably advanced” and would completely understand everything you said, and I would be happy to hear all about your second coming of Baby Einstein after I make one of these cocktails.
Purchase Hickory Daiquiri Dock
