Gin Austen: 50 Cocktails to Celebrate the Novels of Jane Austen

by Colleen Mullaney

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a person in possession of this good book must be in want of a drink.

Winner of the Gourmand Award in the Gin category (US).
 
In six enduring novels, Jane Austen captured the fancies and foibles of Regency England, and every delightful page of this book celebrates the picnics, luncheons, dinner parties, and glamorous balls of Austen’s world. At these social engagements, gossip reigned, love flourished, and drinks flowed. Discover an exotic world of cobblers, crustas, flips, punches, shrubs, slings, sours, and toddies, with recipes that evoke the past but suit today’s tastes. Raise your glass to Sense and Sensibility with a Brandon Old-Fashioned, Elinorange Blossom, Hot Barton Rum, or Just a Dashwood. Toast Pride and Prejudice with a Cousin Collins, Fizzy Miss Lizzie, Gin & Bennet, or Salt & Pemberley. Brimming with enlightening quotes from the novels and Austen’s letters, beautiful photographs, and period design, this intoxicating volume is a must-have for any devoted Janeite.

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction, Jane Austen, Cocktails, Food

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Nicole Entin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can I count this as a book? I read it cover to cover. I’m now significantly more informed about the differences between shrubs, sours, and slings. And I know how to make an Earl Grey syrup (which alone merits five stars). Yes, I’m counting this as a book. I’ll read anything that isn’t Gulliver’s Travels nowadays.

[Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have very little interest in mixed drinks. The drink names and snarky comments at the end of ingredients are worth the price of admission!!! Make mine a Cherry Bingley or a Brandon Old-Fashioned. Please don't make it as cold as General Tilney's heart!!!!
There are a few errors(in the mini JA bio and some book info) but have another drink!

1/29/25 definitely could use
a few of the drinks.

[DC · Rating 2 out of 5]

Recipes seem fine; nothing I especially want to try. Seems like a lot of bother when I'd rather just have a neat bourbon.
The narratives / factoids about Austen's major works are too often inacurate for my taste (e.g., Fanny and Edmund are not cousins "by marriage," their moters are sisters; it is not Elizabeth who disapproves of Mrs. Clay, it is Anne; Longbourne is not a "cottage." Those are just the ones that occur immediately.).

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming, quick read just in time for Valentine's Day. I've asked Scott to make me one of these delightful cocktails to mark the day, but my goal is to try each at some point. The book itself is a handsome enough little number to be displayed on our bar cart.

[Tekla György (teklakonyvei) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Gin Austen – 50 koktélrecept Jane Austen regényeihez nemcsak a koktélok szerelmeseinek lehet remek kiadvány, hanem bárkinek, aki rajong Jane Austenért. Colleen Mullaney könyve igazi élményt ad akkor is, ha magukat a recepteket nem készíted el, csak a szerzőért és a regényeiért rajongsz.

Igényes és szép kiadvány akár a saját polcodra, akár ajándékba szánod egy Jane Austen-rajongó barátodnak vagy rokonodnak.

Bővebben: https://www.gyorgytekla.hu/2022/11/co...

[Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations for every drink, extensive information on barware and glasses, and a droll section on drinking games make for a lovely addition to any Austen fan's library.

[Lisa Whitaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging and filled with a plethora of cocktails I’m eager to try! As a Janeite I would be remiss in noting at least one factual error about “Pride & Prejudice,” but it’s minor and doesn’t detract from the overall readability and enjoyment of the book.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun little exercise into pairing drinks with high points in Austen's novels. The introduction to each drink gave a little background into the inspirational scene, which was quite enjoyable. Some of the drinks felt original; my biggest criticism is that quite a few of the others were just standard drink recipes retitled (Negroni, Gimlet, Bloody Mary, etc.) which were a disappointment each time they were encountered. One expects each drink to be original in some way. I did like the inclusion of some Austen-inspired drinking games at the end; I could easily envision a literary girls night out.

[CharlotteReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Conceptually, it is a fine book. It is unclear whether the recipes are modern or of our Dear Jane's era. It is rather sweetly written and a bit HOWEVER, there is either an issue with the author's comprehension of Jane Austen's works or has never read the actual works-- as there are factual errors in the witty, little paragraphs on how people are related, what they did in the novels. That was disappointed-- so double check her facts and do not consider the Austen-related informative little bits factual, unless you fact check it.... or perhaps all the little info bits were Chat GPT and Ai generated. Disappointing.

[Betsy Baltzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a cocktail in possession of clever wordplay must be in want of a sip.” 🍸 As a lover of Pride and Prejudice, Gin Austen is an absolute delight! From the brilliantly named drinks like “Fizzle Miss Lizzie” and “Salt and Pemberley” to the fun drinking games tucked in the back, this book is as witty and charming as Austen herself. A perfect blend of literature and libations—cheers to that!!! 🍸🙌🏻🍸

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sure Jane would love this book. I especially loved that drinks are divided by Book Inspiration.

[Hillary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful combination of themed cocktails! We'll have to try some of these when we get the chance.

[Tracey Washington-lacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the pairing of the drinks with the characters/books. A bit of fun.

[Antipoet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fun and includes something for everyone!

[Jana Eichhorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably for fans only, but if there are two things in life that I am a fan of, they are cocktails and Jane Austen, soo....

[Tamara Kohari · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a really informative book about cocktails and gins!!!

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

52 Book Club #1- book with pun in title