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Boxes, books and other small things for homebodies

Ladies Who Drink: A Stylishly Spirited Guide to Mixed Drinks and Small Bites + Win a copy!

Fixing drinks has never been my domaine, but look out world, ’cause that’s about to change. Thanks to Running Press, I have everything I need to transform from a cocktail dunce to a cocktail diva inย Ladies Who Drink: A Stylishly Spirited Guide to Mixed Drinks and Small Bites by Anne Keenan Higgins. Small in size but mighty in know-how, the lighthearted guide takes readers through the basics and beyond: from home bar essentials (including liquors, tools and glasses) to party-planning tips, to cocktails and nibblies for every occasion. (Think Backyard Barbecue, Ice-Skating Party, A Trip to Margaritaville, and Sunday Brunch Bloodies.) Served with a splash of mixology history and infused with charming illustrations of ladies who lunch (and sip!) looking oh-so-chic and you’ve got a practical and pretty starter for anyone new to the bar.

LadiesWhoDrink_text-159

Raise your hand if you can name that drink. Here’s a hint: it was invented in the 1940s to push Smirnoff sales in the US and typically served in a copper mug or rocks glass filled with crushed ice. Did you say Moscow Mule? Ding ding ding! You’re correct.

“…Drinks that mix a base spirit with ginger beer and a citrus juice are often called mules or bucks, perhaps because of the ‘kick’ provided by the spicy ginger beer.” — Anne Keeenan Higgins

Ladies Who Drink snack mix and Moscow Mule overhead shot final

Anne also includes recipes for three variations — the London, Mexican and Fruit-Flavoured Mules — along with the Kentucky Mule (“a great drink for Derby Day”). I served the Moscow Mule with the snack mix suggested for Aprรจs-Shopping, but suspect it would be tasty for many occasions.

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Some other pairings I’d like to try:

  • a Vampire’s Kiss with Spicy Pumpkin Seeds
  • a Rossini with Fig and Brie Hand Pies
  • a Last Days of the Raj with Lemon-Thyme Shortbread
  • an Italian Greyhound with a Salumi Platter

I think a cocktail is in order, don’t you?

GIVEAWAY!

To enter to win a copy of Ladies Who Drink from Running Press, tell me your favourite cocktail and small bite pairing (or one you’d like to try) in the comments below. This entry is mandatory.

For an additional entry,ย followย try small thingsย onย Facebookย and share this post, then tell me you did so and your name on Facebook in the comments below.

For a third entry,ย followย try small thingsย on Instagram, andย tell me your Instagram handle in the comments below.

And feel free to tweet the following once per day and leave the url for your tweet in the comments below (one entry per tweet). Make sure youโ€™reย followingย try small thingsย on Twitterย for your entry to count.

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere: #Win Anne Keenan Higgins’ “Ladies Who Drink” from @trysmallthings http://bit.ly/ladieswhodrink ย โ€ข CAN/US 10/5ย 

The giveaway is open to Canadian and US residents 18+ and ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on October 5, 2017.ย The potential winner (chosen at random) must respond to prize notification within 48 hours and provide the correct answer to a skill-testing question, otherwise another will be selected.

Update October 7, 2017: Congratulations Elizabeth R!

Running Press sent me Ladies Who Drink in exchange for an honest review. Images from the book and cover shown here with permission from the publisher, copyright Anne Keenan Higgins.ย 

86 responses to “Ladies Who Drink: A Stylishly Spirited Guide to Mixed Drinks and Small Bites + Win a copy!”

  1. Stephanie LaPlante Avatar
    Stephanie LaPlante

  2. Stephanie LaPlante Avatar
    Stephanie LaPlante

  3. Old Fashioned and a Swedish Meatball on a stick would be for me!

  4. I would make a caesar with gin and avocado

  5. My favourite cocktail would be a dirty vodka martini on the rocks with 2 olives. Paired with wasabi flavoured peas and sea salt and pepper chick peas. My twitter account is legaledconsults.

  6. I love a moscow mule and pumpkin crackers!

  7. Stephanie LaPlante Avatar
    Stephanie LaPlante

  8. Margaritas with guacamole; or White Russians with bite size brownies, depending on whether I’m feeling salty or sweet. ๐Ÿ˜Š

  9. Stephanie LaPlante Avatar
    Stephanie LaPlante

  10. Margarita & chips

  11. My favourite is an Old Fashioned and a Swedish Meatball on a stick.

    1. Interesting combination! We always have a bag of IKEA meatballs in the freezer. I’ll have to try it!

  12. My tweet

  13. shirley temple and hors d’oeuvres

  14. Stephanie LaPlante Avatar
    Stephanie LaPlante

  15. Stephanie LaPlante Avatar
    Stephanie LaPlante

    I follow you on instagram

    stephy905

  16. Stephanie LaPlante Avatar
    Stephanie LaPlante

    I like you on facebook & shared

    Stephanie LaPlante

  17. Stephanie LaPlante Avatar
    Stephanie LaPlante

    I really love my Strawberry Wine which is red wine with berry ice cubes and I love crackers with smoked applewood cheese.

    1. Berry ice cubes! I love that idea, Stephanie!

  18. I’d try the Italian Greyhound with a Salumi Platter

  19. I love Vodka with Cranberry pop. A great appetizer is baguette and smoked salmon on it.

  20. I love daiquiris and baked brie cheese with crackers.

  21. This looks like such a fun and beautiful book!

    I love a Moscow Mule or a Tom Collins with some fresh French bread, tiny bit of cream cheese, and apricot or fig jam.

    I follow you on Instagram. I’m @_erica.mae_

  22. I love Caesars paired with deep fried mozzarella sticks and swedish meatballs.๐Ÿง€

  23. Currently the favourite is a lemondrop martini, and flatbread crackers with brie cheese.

    1. Oooh, lemondrop martini and brie. Is it 5 o’clock yet? ๐Ÿ™‚

  24. followed on instagram!

  25. I love Mojitos and popcorn!

  26. Vodka soda & more vodka soda!! I love oysters & I like to get fried stuff in bars because we don’t fry food at home. Stuff like calamari & shrimp.

    1. “Vodka soda & more vodka soda” ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚

  27. Follow you on instagram @tinadar7

  28. Nachos and a margarita

  29. How about a tangy Cosmo served with some whole grain GF crackers topped with a bit of cream cheese and chives

    1. Is that an offer? ๐Ÿ™‚ If so, yes please!

  30. and oops I am @alabouroflife on insta now Tweeted

  31. I love a Moscow Mule and snack wise I am sticking with your picture ( is that lazy of me or smart?)

    1. I’m gonna go with smart since the snack mix is hello! delicious! ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks Linda! Good luck!

  32. Wonderful….. opens up a whole new world for me.
    My drink of choice is wine – chilled light white and full bodies red – I don’t discriminate…. a really cold light beer in the summer goes down very easily as well.
    Your book looks like fun and I think it would make a great little hostess gift – do we still do that ?- o.k. o.k. maybe a great birthday gift for a girlfriend who loves to play hostess…. and I have lots of those.

    1. Well you must buy a bunch of copies then! ๐Ÿ™‚ They’d love it!

  33. we don’t prepare cocktails, so I won’t enter; but I think the illustrations are adorable, and your photos are on pointe!! thanks for the fun review !!

    1. @cassidl on insta, post shared on Facebook and of course tweetng all the way

    2. Thanks so much, Joy! โค๏ธ

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