Good Spirits

The must-have companion for classic and creative drinks and cocktail history from a celebrated industry icon.

Good Spirits is a culture-rich cocktail exploration that seamlessly blends practiced technique with deep historical knowledge. For master bartender and cocktail educator Tiffanie Barriere, the bar has always been a place where history, creativity, and community combine. From gold-standard martinis and expert Manhattans to drinks inspired by mood, the cocktail curious will learn not only how to skillfully mix and pour with joy, but also about the fascinating and often untold history behind our favorite drinks and spirits.

In addition to the backstories and recipes for 125 cocktails, enthusiasts will find illuminating essays about choosing and using spirits and the legacies (both bitter and sweet) behind them; important historical figures who invented our favorite drinks, liqueurs, and bar tools; and truths that track the impact of trends and cocktail movements. Zero-proof variations abound thanks to the ingenious concept of cocktail “stock”, while dozens of bold-flavored syrups, shrubs, and infusions make it just as easy and exciting to take a drink in a no-alcohol direction as a boozy one. Insights on tools, garnishing, ice types, and the difference between shaking, rolling, and aerating set you up to hone your mixology and make drinks with confidence.

• “Tiffanie shares her characteristic exuberance for inventive mixology and vivid storytelling in a bold and playful collection that will build confidence and spur cocktail-making joy for you, too.” 
  Toni Tipton-Martin, award-winning author of THE JEMIMA CODE, JUBILEE, and JUKE JOINTS, JAZZ CLUBS, AND JUICE
• “Tiffanie is just about my favorite person to share a bar with, and this book is a perfect reminder of why: it's as full of joy as it is of knowledge, and that joy is a candle lit to fight the darkness.” 
  Dave Wondrich, award-winning author of IMBIBE!, PUNCH, and THE COMIC BOOK HISTORY OF THE COCKTAIL
• “Tiffanie’s work goes beyond celebration. She challenges the industry to be more intentionally inclusive of Black history and ingenuity by linking gaps in the record and restoring long-overlooked contributions. In doing so, she not only reclaims space but also creates new space for the future, intentionally expanding the canon of cocktail culture.”
  Cha McCoy, certified sommelier, wine educator, and author of WINE PAIRING FOR THE PEOPLE
• “Every glass is a journey of flavor, culture, and storytelling. Tiffanie continues to show us how a cocktail travels, transforms and still find its way back to the soul!” 
   
  Deborah VanTrece, chef, author, and host of Global Soul Kitchen
• “Just like I knew it would be, this book is full of joy, history, and fun cocktail recipes. Tiffanie’s love and passion for spirits and the history behind them—and the African Diaspora—is a gift to us all. (She’s the reason I started enjoying gin!)”
  Terri J. Vaughn, actor, producer, director
• “Lots of substance without any pretense; Tiffanie has written a book that welcomes seasoned pros, enthusiasts, and beginners to the global community of cocktails and cocktail making. What really moved me is the no-pulled punches on the historical information—you get the cool, fun facts and the not-so-fun facts, too. After finishing this book, you will be able to make and speak about cocktails with the confidence of a master of the craft.”
  Duane Nutter, chef and owner of Southern National Restaurant and Market and author of CUTTING UP IN THE KITCHEN
• “Tiffanie inspires your inner mixologist by decoding craft cocktails and garnishing them with fascinating historical details. This is an amazing look at American beverage culture and a ‘glass of Black joy’ worth sipping!”
  Adrian Miller, author of BLACK SMOKE and SOUL FOOD
• “Rarely does a book weave history, memory, and identity so seamlessly into both page and glass. Rather than reading like a historical tome, this beautifully designed book is as bright, vibrant, and magnetic as Tiffanie herself, one of the most influential voices in modern cocktail culture.”
  Danny Childs, award-winning author of SLOW DRINKS