The Comic Book History of the Cocktail: Five Centuries of Mixing Drinks and Carrying On

by David Wondrich, Dean Kotz (illustrator)

A graphic novel history of the cocktail—from prehistoric wassail to our current boozy renaissance—featuring 20 recipes by drinks historian, Daily Beast columnist, and award-winning author David Wondrich.

There's no better writer to tell the colorful history of cocktails than David Wondrich, widely considered to be one of the world's foremost authorities on cocktails and a driving force behind the early-twenty-first-century revival in the classic American art of mixing drinks.

In The Comic Book Story of the Cocktail, Wondrich teams up with comics artist Dean Kotz to trace the evolution of the cocktail. Beginning with the ancient days of wassail and hypocras (mixed drinks based on wine and beer), they narrate a tumultuous and vibrant history that stretches through the Age of Exploration, the boozier parts of the Enlightenment and America’s hurly-burly nineteenth century, to the Disco years, the Cosmo years, and the modern Cocktail Revolution. 

Kotz’s intricate, masterful drawings illustrate stories that have never been properly told and introduce key characters who haven’t yet received their due. Nearly thirty recipes round out this spirited account, featuring accurate versions of old classics and a generous selection of secret weapons from the mixologist’s vest pocket. So, settle in with your libation of choice and prepare to meet the good, the bad, and the boozy in this lively and jam-packed tale.

Genres: Graphic Novels, History, Nonfiction, Cookbooks, Food, Comics, Cocktails

176 pages, Hardcover

Published September 23, 2025

About the author

Born on the banks of the Monongahela. Raised in major urban centers. Ex-bass player, ex-English professor, ex-ragtime writer. Mixographer. Brooklynite. Likes port and Stilton and Artemus Ward.

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

The Comic Book History of the Cocktail is a graphic novel style book all about the history behind well loved cocktails.
I read the earc, which was beautifully illustrated, but I did get headaches trying to read the text on a screen zooming in and out to do so on every page. I'd advise reading this in physical format for this reason alone.
There's lots of interesting information in this book, and I loved how it was told in graphic novel style, which gave it an added edge.
Many of the cocktails do use the same ingredients, so some recipes can appear quite repetitive to an extent (as they do normally).
This would be a great gift for any history lover, cocktail fan, or as a coffee table book for social occasions.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

I think the other reviews of this book are wild. People are complaining that there were too many historical facts in a history book? Docking stars because you were expecting a comic book and got a graphic novel? Maybe read the blurb, which said it was a graphic novel. Really, some people 🙄

This was an amazing graphic novel filled with so much history. I can't drink more than a teaspoon or so of alcohol before feeling like I am going to have a seizure. Basically, I will sometimes take a sip, make a face and say, "I don't like that." I was reading this because I love learning new things.

Definitely would recommend this, unless you are one of those people who hates when there are too many words on the page or historical facts in a history book lol 😆

[Noah H-I · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.

4 out of 5 stars. Would recommend!

A beautiful and wildly informative graphic history of alcohol and cocktails. Wondrich covers everything from how booze was first made to which drinks defined different eras, complete with dozens of recipes. At times it’s almost too detailed, but the incredible art makes it all come alive and proves that comics might be the best way to tell cocktail history. Perfect for cocktail fans and history buffs alike.

[Estibaliz · Rating 2 out of 5]

In my humble opinion, words matter and should be accurately used.

What is to say that this is not a comic book (aka graphic novel), but an illustrated History of the Cocktail; and, as such, it turned out to be quite a dense reading.

Of course, there is some interesting facts and anecdotes to be discovered here, as well as some (few) interesting cocktail recipes, but over all I would define this reading experience as quite arid; with a language that was often obscure and opaque, and an art that was just there as a companion, but never really necessary to tell the story, that instead was told with too many words.

So yeah... not a comic book, because I'm sure there has to be a rule that establishes a proper ratio of words to images (and if not, there should be), and it has to be far (very far) from what I've found here.

-Anyway, thank you to Goodreads and Crown for providing me with a copy of this book, via Giveaways...-

[Nic · Rating 3 out of 5]

The emphasis on this book should be the word “History” as it’s pretty dense for a comic book, I think graphic novel is a better descriptor for this one. It has a lot of interesting information, some of it felt a little redundant but that’s probably because there are overlaps in alcohol and the drinks presented use some repeating ingredients.

The artwork is detailed, I had a difficult time adjusting my eyes to the font it’s written in at times. I think because I picked this up thinking it was more of a comic book rather than the pretty historically dense graphic novel, it lost my interest at multiple points so I had to break it up into small sections. Likely a history buff looking for a story about alcohol will enjoy this very much.

Thanks NetGalley, David Wondrich, and Ten Speed Graphic for this advanced reader’s copy.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Comic Book History of the Cocktail would make a great gift for fans of Max Miller’s “Tasting History,” (especially the “Drinking History” episodes.) It’s a fun, informative read. The text is a bit denser than expected, but I didn’t mind, and Dean Kotz’s eye-catching illustrations help propel the reader along.

The illustrated drink mixing instructions are engaging and seem easy to follow, and there are quite a few I’d love to try my hand at, when I have the right ingredients. All I have right now are wine, cooking booze, and the makings of a Redheaded Slut. (Peach Schnapps, Jaeger, and cranberry juice, FYI.)

Thank you to NetGalley and Ten Speed Graphic for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions within are my own.

[Josh]

Cocktails. We know them. Many love them. But how many of us know the long and complicated journey through history that brought us the cocktail as we know it today?

Full review at: https://noflyingnotights.com/blog/202...

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great example of how the graphic novel format can lift up and enrich nonfiction. Wondrich’s informative & casual style is perfectly complimented by Kotz’s visual attention to detail. Highly recommend.

[Toren Spencer-Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Notes about Alcohol and Drinking: 🍻🍻
1. Some drinks have low alcoholic content, and some drinks have high alcoholic content. --James Joyce
2. One man sipped his drink slowly, while the other man gulped his down quickly. —James Joyce
3. When he got drunk, he would curse people out and shout.
4. He drinks alcohol diluted with water.
5. Different types of alcoholic beverages affect people differently.
6. Wine is simply fermented grape juice.
7. In the military camp, they would often watch tv throughout the day while drinking from a six-pack of beer.
8. Seagram's Escapes are known for their fruity flavors, and often marketed as a way to 'escape' to a tropical paradise.
9. I don't want to drink alcohol, I'll just have a soda. --Frank McCourt
10. Some people are good at mixing drinks.

11. "He drinks water scented with alcohol, or beverages which contain only a few drops of alcohol."
12. "After drinking, he pretended to be drunk."
13. After drinking, his friends sent him to the store, and then he got into a lot of trouble.
14. "Use food coloring and water, to make it look like an alcoholic beverage."
15. "After drinking, he went to sleep."
16. "I don't know, it came like this from the factory." --James Joyce
17. "Why are you drinking alcohol to begin with?"
18. “The man drank all day and all night long.”
19. Alcoholic drinks from Asia are popular today.
20. “The caliph gave orders that Abu be given drink until he became drunk." —The Arabian Nights

21. Beer, whiskey, or wine, he would drink anything.
22. Sometimes their father would leave an open can of beer in their refrigerator at home, even though he told everyone else not to drink it.
23. The researcher studied the effects of alcohol on people when they drink it.
24. People can drink in a bar, or listen to music, watch movies, or eat food there.
25. Groups of people can go to the bar for drinks, or just entertainment.
26. She bought a bottle of wine, and then poured out the wine and replaced it with grape juice, and then she went to the party with it. --Laurel and Hardy
27. He learned how to mix food coloring and other liquids, in order to give the appearance of beer, rum, and other alcoholic drinks.
28. Alcoholic beverages can be mixed with sugar, soda, or fruit juice, to make them taste better.
29. In the bar, the bartender had a fake liquor bottle, with water in it that looked like liquor, as well as real liquor in bottles.
30. The man replaced the whiskey that was in the bottle with iced tea, which was the same color.

31. There are different types of alcoholic drinks, which match different tastes of people.
32. Omitted.
33. Most large countries produce their own kinds of alcohol.
34. You can dilute beer, whiskey, or wine with water first, if it’s too strong, and then gradually build your tolerance up to drink it plain.
35. Don’t drink to get drunk, drink responsibly.
36. Many people like the taste of German beer or wine from Italy or Spain.
37. Dacquiri or Margarita liquid concentrate, mixed with water and sugar, is a good tasting drink.
38. Vodka mixed with fruit juice, water, and sugar, is a good drink.
39. Rum and coke is a good drink.
40. Rum and coffee is a good drink.

41. If you have guests over your house, then make it a cocktail party, with food and alcoholic drinks.. --Esquire Magazine
42. Mix orange liquor with sugar and water. —Esquire Magazine
43. Mix Hennessy with cola.
44. While he mostly drank beer, sometimes he enjoyed a wine cooler.
45. The man convinced another man to drink, and when he got drunk, he laughed, because he had gotten him drunk.
46. The best way to drink whiskey or rum is in small amounts, for relaxation. --Esquire Magazine
47. At the get together, the hosts served alcoholic drinks. --Esquire Magazine
48. We don't learn about smoking cigarettes or the tobacco industry in high school or college, we learn about smoking cigarettes and the tobacco industry from unofficial ways, from friends and popular movies, for example.
49. American Indians and settlers to early America, believed that tobacco had meditative, calming, even sedative properties, and the cigarette industry is still popular in the United States today.
50. Instead of wasting time rolling bagged pipe tobacco with rolling papers, just smoke bagged tobacco in a pipe or bong.
51. Tobacco stores sell bagged pipe tobacco based on flavor and potency levels.
52. If first you use your fingers to crush bagged tobacco into fine little pieces, and second, stuff it into empty cigarette tubes, then cigarettes are easy to make.
53. Please visit my blog, www.scholarlyinformation.com for more university-level book reviews, food ideas, and more.

Thank you,
🌹🌹Toren Spencer-Gray

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: The Comic Book History of the Cocktail: Five Centuries of Mixing Drinks and Carrying On by David Wondrich, Dean Kotz (illustrator)

Rating: 4 Stars

I picked up The Comic Book History of the Cocktail by David Wondrich mostly on a whim — I’m a sucker for anything that mixes history with a good drink — and came away pleasantly buzzed. This isn’t a straight-laced academic tome or a glossy cocktail manual; it’s a lively, illustrated romp through the long, often ridiculous story of how humans started mixing booze and calling it civilization.

Wondrich, who’s basically cocktail royalty at this point, teams up with artist Dean Kotz to tell the tale in graphic-novel form. The book takes you from ancient wassails and spiced wine concoctions through the booze-fueled Age of Exploration, the raucous 19th-century American drinking scene, and on to the modern cocktail revival that put craft bars back on the map. Along the way you meet colorful characters and forgotten episodes that made me laugh, shake my head, and occasionally reach for a pen to jot down the next drink I want to try. Interspersed with the storytelling are a generous number of recipes — both authentic historical mixes and a few modern “secret weapons” — so the history is something you can actually taste.

Kotz’s illustrations give the book a big part of its charm. The art is detailed, energetic, and frequently hilarious; it adds a contemporary edge that keeps the narrative brisk and entertaining. The combination of Wondrich’s deep knowledge and Kotz’s visual storytelling makes complicated or obscure bits of cocktail lore surprisingly accessible. It’s the kind of book you can flip through for a quick anecdote or sit down with for a full read while nursing whatever you’re mixing at the time.

For who this is for: history buffs who like a drink, cocktail nerds who appreciate origin stories, or anyone looking for a conversation-starting coffee-table book. It’s casual and fun enough for social browsing but also grounded in real research, so it won’t annoy the more serious readers either.

My main gripe, and the reason I’m nudging this to four stars rather than five, is practical: the text is tiny. On the copy I read the lettering was quite small and a little taxing to read for long stretches. I’d hope the physical edition is a touch easier on the eyes, but if you struggle with small type, that’s something to keep in mind.

All told, The Comic Book History of the Cocktail is a witty, well-researched, and visually engaging look at five centuries of mixing drinks. It won’t replace your bartending bible, but it will make you smarter about why your favorite classic cocktails exist — and it might just inspire you to make one. Raise a glass to Wondrich and Kotz: this is a spirited, entertaining read.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

[Elizabeth Licht · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Ten Speed Press for providing the ARC for this book. Light spoilers may be included in this review, though I tried to keep the early part as spoiler-free as possible.

The author is extremely knowledgeable, which is clear from the introductory section. There is a lot of information about different innovators in bar tending and mixology, as well as the history of drinks and drink terms themselves. Terminology is explained fairly well, though dialogue in the comic panels may be difficult to read if you do not have a grasp on historical English-speaking. One aspect I did not mind but may be annoying for some, is that the text does make references to itself relatively frequently in the latter half of the chapters, so keep that in mind if you are considering reading.

The art style works well and feels very classic for a comic, but some of the images with small details look a little busy and messy, and the text is small, which makes this difficult to read on an e-reader.
The chapter on cocktails during the world wars felt way too long and may feel like a bit of a slow read. I personally think it would have been better to break this one into two different chapters, since they had divided content (recipes and "chaser" sections) between them anyway.

Recipes are provided throughout the comic book at the end of the chapter by one of two bartenders explaining the drink as they make it. These recipes are pretty straightforward, though there is not always a great transition between the main content of the chapter and recipes, which causes these recipe pages to feel a little out of place in some chapters. Also, bar tools were not introduced until chapter 6, which felt a little odd when reading, and it seems like that would have been more appropriate in the first chapter. Other recipes are included at the end as well for more drinks that may not have been as relevant to the narratives in each chapter.

Finally, there was a hint of disdain for gastronomy-based cocktails in the modern chapter, which didn't bother me too much, but could come off as a bit stuck-up due to the author's more traditional tastes. This is just one other thing to keep in mind, but it isn't too heavy and comes through in so few pages. Another thing to keep in mind for readers' personal preferences when considering buying vs borrowing the book.
Overall, this was a great read and I would highly recommend anyone who enjoys history or cocktails to give it a try.

[Mina Reads All Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a big fan of cocktails. I have my own lil bar set up in my kitchen to make drinks when I host and I love making new drinks. I thought this would be a fun book to read because it would give some background on the drinks we make. To be honest I never really thought about the history that goes with cocktails until seeing this book. I thought the book would be amazing, while it lets down a bit with the expectations it did have the history and facts that it promised.

First of all I was expecting more of a comic style book and while this takes on a comic book feel almost every page is really busy, with lots of text and some pages bog you down with info. From a visual standpoint it can be a bit overwhelming with the small text and full pages. The art style is reminiscent of older comics which was promised with the cover image. I liked the little stories that came with the different drinks as well as what delivered to me like an Alton Brown type feel of explaining certain things (like there is a whole page on bitters that I could hear being said in Alton's voice being informative on ingredients).

All in all I would give this one 3 stars. It is a solid window into the past (and well cited at the end of the book), fun comic book art and delivers on history. Any fan of Alton Brown's Good Eats would enjoy this as well as any bartender who wants to learn some fun facts to talk about at the bar. I don't think this would be a fun read for anyone who isn't attached to cocktails in some way.
Lastly I think this book would make a great gift for the drinker in your family or a friend/acquaintance who fancies cocktails.



Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

This does just what it says on the bottle. It is a surprisingly varied and interesting look at the last couple of hundred years of cocktails, from before the word existed (basically, sailor's grog, and anything given that fresh new distillation technology) up to current times. It's notable when and how so many of these drinks started, and the social trends of the people and bars involved – and those of their customers – are itemised here very intelligently, it seems. Also, the art manages to make this a decent read for the eye, where so much of it could be scripted as 'people in bar, happy', 'people in bar moaning about drinks menu', 'glasses', 'bottles', ad infinitum. We also are allowed to gain multiple recipes from inside the narrative and from the appendix we close with. I have to say the voice of the "British" barmaid taking us through a lot of this is about the worst impersonation of such since Dick van Dyke's accent in "Mary Poppins", but I could let that slide, given a few quick snifters of something potent. I'm not sure it would pull in the yet-to-be-converted, whether that be the teetotaller or the person who dislikes graphic novel presentations, but for me this was a solid four stars. I guess it left me much more stirred than shaken – that barmaid regardless.

[Anne Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve ever wondered who first thought to mix spirits with sugar, or how the humble gin fizz went from back-alley staple to cocktail-bar darling, David Wondrich’s The Comic Book History of the Cocktail has your answer—and then some.

Told through bold, witty illustrations by Dean Kotz, the book transforms centuries of drinking lore into a lively graphic narrative. From ancient feasts and Renaissance punch bowls to Prohibition speakeasies and modern mixology, Wondrich doesn’t just recount history—he makes it fizz. The panels crackle with humor and energy, pulling readers through time as if history itself were being shaken in a cocktail shaker.

What sets this book apart is its playful blend of scholarship and storytelling. It’s meticulously researched, yet light on its feet, serving up anecdotes, trivia, and nearly thirty recipes that let you taste the eras you’ve just read about. The result is a history book that belongs as much on a coffee table—or behind the bar—as on a shelf.

Verdict: A spirited toast to history, design, and good company—best savored with a drink in hand.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A graphic novel that has beautiful illustrations and describes how alcohol and cocktails developed around the world. There also basic recipes of cocktails which are also talked through as if a bar tender is talking you through them. It’s really different and I’ve never seen anything like it. For me graphic novels are just so entertaining and yet so many of them are too dark to read when you’re trying to relax, this is easy on the eye and relaxing.
I really enjoyed reading it and I think it would make an excellent present, I could imagine someone having this as part of a present and spending Christmas making cocktails and reading this. I hope it does get made into a hard back as I think it would be a beautiful book to keep for reference. There is a significant amount of effort put into the writing and the stories. I really appreciate the notes and further reading, the whole book feels like a labour of love with so much attention to detail.
Thank you to Ten Speed Press for providing this book for my consideration via NetGalley this is all my own rambling, honest and personal opinions.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Comic Book History of the Cocktail is an absolute pleasure to read. It covers centuries of drinking culture—bars, trends, and how cocktails evolved over time—while also slipping in plenty of recipes and mixes. I learned so many surprising facts, including where the very first cocktail originated and how they rose and fell in popularity across the world.

What really struck me is that today’s cocktail revival isn’t just a trendy fad—it’s the resurrection of a culture that’s been around for hundreds of years. Even though I don’t drink very often, I found the history fascinating.

This book works on multiple levels: it’s a recipe book if you’re into mixing drinks, a history book if you love learning, and an engaging comic if you just want something fun to read. The illustrated format makes it far more enjoyable than a textbook ever could.

Technically, it’s best for 21 and up, but honestly, I think high school readers and older would get a lot out of it (just maybe don’t hand them the recipe section!).

[Emi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Publishing date: 23.09.2025 (DD/MM/YYYY)
Thank you to NetGalley and Ten Speed Press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

I love cocktails. Learning more about cocktails would be for me right? Eh

Love the premise, first of all. History of anything is usually very interesting. But I am not sure the way it told the history here benefited the book in any way. The text is tiny, there is a looot of info cramped on almost every page. What is nice is the breaks between chapters with a drink of choice and how to make them.

Otherwise, the history is really just fine. There are a lot of repeats, naturally. Here is a group of people, on accident or due to desperation they have made an alcoholic drink. Over time it turned into a comfort instead of necessity. It really is just mostly that. I think if you have some kind of essay or task about this theme you may get more from this.

Mixed on this book, but I am giving it 3 stars. Maybe it just wasn't for me.

[Kamila Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I would like to thank you to the author and NetGalley for letting me read and post an honest review about this graphic novel.

Let’s start with the visual aspect. Normally I am not the biggest fan of this type of drawing in a graphic novel, since to me it can honestly be overwhelming and too much, but for this sort of graphic novel, this really did work and go well with the book.

The content was very rich in information, which is a good thing and shows that the author definitely did their research thoroughly. Due to the overwhelming amount of information, if someone really wants to learn all of this, they will definitely have to pick this book a few times and read it. As a former bartender, I really did appreciate this book and all the information inside it.

I will also add that the yeast was cute. (You need to read and see the drawing, to understand what I am saying 😉)

[Ellie Cripps · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was, ultimately, much denser than I expected it to be, the pages were fairly crammed with information and as a comic book that became rather hard to read after a while (especially as I was reading a digital ARC)
There's undoubtedly a lot of interesting information here, and it's nothing if not thorough, but I never found myself as interested as I expected. I love to experiment with cocktails and try new things, but my budget is limited so this felt like a window into bigger and bolder things, but there was just so much squeezed into less than 200 pages!
Not a bad time by any measure (pun intended) but maybe have a flick through a print copy when it's published before you decide!
Thanks as always to Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Alexis Berman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for my Advanced Reader's Copy of this book.

First and foremost this book is clearly written by a cocktail aficionado who knows everything there is to know about the history of cocktails and how to make them. I enjoyed the comprehensive history of how and where spirits and cocktails were first created and in some cases why they were created. I also enjoyed the many cocktail recipes scattered throughout the book. But this book is heavy for a graphic novel and I don't mean the subject matter. I mean how much text there is. Because there is a lot of text. I'm not sure that the average graphic novel reader from at least my library would check out this book after seeing how text heavy it is. 3.5 stars.

[Nev · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the last year and a half, I have been very interested in understanding the art of the cocktail. So when I saw David Wondrich had a new book, I was so excited to read it.

First of all, I loved Dean Kotz's illustrations. It would have been even more incredible to read it on paper rather than as an e-book.

I really enjoyed reading about the history of cocktail making. I love learning about the past of and the ideas behind the cocktail rather than memorizing drink recipes blindly.

The recipe section in the back was very varied and I can't wait to get into them all.

This was a very fun read for me overall and I enjoyed that it was formatted as a comic book. Thanks a lot to NetGalley and Ten Speen Press for the e-ARC!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*

I will start by saying that I am not a drinker and have not had a cocktail in going on a decade now, but I still found this book fascinating. I am also interested in learning more about how common day things got their start and have evolved over time. What was really interesting here was seeing how events throughout history influenced what types of cocktails were created and popular. Having the recipes for some of the cocktails at the end of each chapter was also a nice touch. My only problem with the book was that I was reading this an e-book so some of the print was a little small for me.

[Kristina Robbins · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title doesn't lie - this was a rather in-depth history of the cocktail. It includes the history of various liquors, their creation and popularity over time. Interspersed throughout the book are various cocktail recipes. The illustrations are beautiful and it was interesting to see how the popularity of different liquors and cocktails rose and fell over time. This would make a good coffee table book for a cocktail enthusiast.

Thank you to the author, Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press and NetGalley for this eARC!

[Federica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

A really nice illustrated book about the history of cocktails, full of recipes for those who fancy mixology.

Reading the title and description I thought that it was going to be a bit different, as I believe that this is not really a comic book but more of a graphic novel. It is really full of information and packed with texts, which sometimes are difficult to read.

An enjoyable reading, probably a great gift for amateurs.

[Lina Serrano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Warning: this is not a light read.

This is more graphic novel than comic because of how much information the book has and those 177 pages drag out. It was very informative and a good for anyone looking to do some light research or good for casual reading if you break it up into parts. Either way, I learned a lot from what I read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Emilee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! Granted, I am a huge history fan and a huge cocktail fan so this book spoke directly to my interests. One thing I am not is big connoisseur in is graphic novels, but I loved the idea of more digestible history book and love David Wondrich’s work so I took a shot. This is a must for anyone who has even an inkling of interest into the world of cocktails or even history! Heck, even if you just like graphic novels this is for you as the artwork and display is absolutely stunning. I learned so much, I have new cocktails to try, and a great book to bring out to parties to show off to my friends. Probably will read again soon…

[Kathleen Kuesters · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I really enjoyed this history of cocktails and definitely came out with a new perspective on the different approaches to making cocktails. The way people have enjoyed them throughout history has been shaped by the events surrounding them.

I received a free copy as a result of the Goodreads giveaway.

[Martin Doudoroff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Distinctive and outstanding: as of 2025 this book represents the leading edge end-to-end interpretation of the history of the cocktail, supplanting (excellent, but aging) work like William Grimes’ *Straight Up or On the Rocks*. An essential primer and reference (a “graphic novel” with an index!) for anyone with at least a passing interest in mixed drinks. A terrific gift idea.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Less comic book or graphic novel, more illustrated nonfiction. Although this can be interesting, it also assumes quite a bit of prior knowledge in the reader. Things like throwing out VSOP without defining what that means. I guess Wondrich assumes the audience of this book will be solely people fairly acquainted with drinking culture, but I don't think that's a fair assumption.

[Paige Petruzzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley, Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Press, and Ten Speed Graphic for the Advance Readers Copy of this book!

This comic book was informative and entertaining! I loved learning the history of the cocktail in such a fun format!