Spirits of Latin America: A Celebration of Culture & Cocktails

Mix, owner of Brooklyn’s Leyenda bar, shares her in-depth knowledge of Latin American liquors in this invigorating debut. The book is organized into three sections, each based on a spirit’s source of sugar. The first chapter is devoted to agave, the vital ingredient of tequila and mezcal. Mix presents an extensive look at the cultural history of the plant as it relates to Mexico, and delves into the many facets of producing agave-based spirits. In addition to a traditional margarita recipe there is a Mai Tai variation, named Mia Tia, made with mezcal, as well as the complicated but fun Perennial Millennial with rhubarb syrup and cardamom tincture. The second section is dedicated to sugarcane and its path from Africa to the Caribbean. Rum cocktails share space with cachaça, “the fourth most-consumed distilled beverage in the world.” The concluding chapter focuses on the humble grape as it is put to use in Peruvian pisco and the Bolivian liquor called singani, which is shaken with chile liqueur, black currant jam, lemon juice, and a bit of maple syrup. Mix’s blend of bright flavors and unique insight results in a stirring first book. (May)