Spirits of Latin America: A Celebration of Culture & Cocktails, with 100 Recipes from Leyenda & Beyond
Through its in-depth look at drinking culture throughout Latin America, this gorgeous book offers a rich cultural and historical context for understanding Latin spirits. Ivy Mix has dedicated years to traveling south, getting to know Latin culture, in part through what the locals drink. What she details here is the discovery that Latin spirits echo the Latin palate, which echoes Latin life, emphasizing spiciness, vivaciousness, strength, and variation. After digging into tequila and Mexico’s other traditional spirits, Ivy Mix follows the sugar trail through the Caribbean and beyond, winding up in Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, where grape-based spirits like pisco and singani have been made for generations.
With more than 100 recipes that have garnered acclaim at her Brooklyn bar, Leyenda, including fun spins on traditional cocktails such as the Pisco Sour, Margarita, and Mojito, plus drinks inspired by Ivy’s travels, like the Tia Mia (which combines mezcal, rum, and orange curacao, with a splash of lime and almond orgeat) or the Sonambula (which features jalapeño-infused tequila, lemon juice, chamomile syrup, and a dash of Peychaud’s bitters), along with mouthwatering photos and gorgeous travel images, this is the ultimate book on Latin American spirits.
WINNER: AICP award for Best Book in Wine, Beer and Spirts
WINNER: Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History, or Spirits at Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards
“In this book, Ivy Mix reveals the roots of her inspiration: Latin American spirits, and her personal experience of the culture behind them. This book plumbs the depths —and provides a vivid portrait—of the spirits that have inspired cocktails that have taken the world by storm. You will not only get a first-class ticket to the places that have given birth to Latin American drink culture but exciting and easy to execute recipes that will appeal to home cocktail enthusiast and seasoned bar pro alike—Saludos!”
—SHANNON MUSTIPHER, author of Tiki: Modern Tropical Cocktails
“Smartly written and beautifully photographed, Spirits of Latin America is a necessary addition to any thoughtful spirit lover’s library. Ivy Mix goes far beyond technical insight and gets to the heart of what actually makes these spirits so special: the people who make them, the cultures from which they were born, and the lands that contribute so much to their personality. We’re brought not just on a journey into her deep passion for agave, sugarcane, and grape spirits but are allowed to ride shotgun as Ivy explores the nuance of each, brings to life the voices of those who put their soul into every drop, and cultivates an appreciation for the deep heritage and tradition that are entwined with their stories.”
—ALEX DAY, co-author of Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions and Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails
“It’s clear as soon as you crack the cover that Ivy Mix long ago left her heart somewhere beneath the Tropic of Cancer. Her passion for the remarkably diverse spirits, peoples, and lands radiates from each page, and her book (and bar, Leyenda) are a testament to her desire to share them with us. Like the first sip of an ice-cold cocktail on a warm San Juan night, this book refreshes and delights.”
—MARTIN CATE, author and owner of Smuggler’s Cove, San Francisco
A Quick Drink: The Speed Rack Guide to Winning Cocktails for Any Mood
Written along side Ivy’s co founder in Speed Rack, Lynnette Marrero, this book celebrates Speed Rack, a global all-femme bartending competition where competitors show off their talents making both classic and original drinks as quickly as their arms can shake and stir—all in the name of raising money for breast cancer charities.
With recipes from Ivy, Lynnette, and more than 80 Speed Rack participants, this book is a manual for making winning cocktails confidently and efficiently at home, based on both what is on your bar cart as well as the occasion, be it a long day at work or a celebration with friends.
Shining a spotlight on the most influential femmes behind the bar today and their inventive drinks, this hot pink celebration of the incredible Speed Rack community is an unconventional, inspiring resource for home bartenders and professionals alike.
