For first 23 years of my life, homemade drinks were limited to coffee, tea, and orange juice reconstituted from frozen concentrate. Soon after I moved to Philadelphia, I learned what a pleasure it could be to make infused iced teas (black spiced with lavender and green steeped with a few apple slices are still favorites from those days). Since then, I’ve played with syrups, shrubs, kombucha, and the occasional homemade soda carbonated with champagne yeast.
However, Ashley English‘s new book (which officially comes out tomorrow!) makes me realize that I’ve only just tapped at the surface of what is possible in the world of homemade beverages. Called Quench
, this lovely little hardback features shrubs, infused spirits, fermented sips, herbal tisanes, sweet/tart sodas, party punches, and inventive cocktails.
What I particularly like about this book is that there is something here for just about everyone. Kids will love helping to make the homemade Lemon Lime Soda (page 23), while parents will be happy that it only requires five ingredients (and other than citric acid, they’re all kitchen staples). Hard core DIY folks will dig the wine making tutorial (page 155), while those of us who like a good infusion will happily explore the chapter called Spirited (it starts on page 103).
I am also taken by the fact that Quench includes both recipes for seasonal, serviceable basics (like the Pear Bitters on page 143) and then suggestions for how to use them in something delicious, like the Cozy Cardigan Cocktail, (further down on page 143). I’ve also made a mental note that I must someday frost a cake with the Lavender and Honey Ganache that is used in the Lavender Hot Chocolate on page 84.
I’ve had a serious crush on this book since last winter, when Ashley’s editor sent me a copy of the bound manuscript and asked if I might write a blurb for the back. I spent half a day lost in the words and recipes, and have looked forward to the finished book ever since. The completed version is better than I could have imagined, printed on sturdy paper and illustrated with Jen Altman’s perfect photography.
Thanks to Ashley and Roost Books, I have two copies of Quench to give away. Here’s how to enter.
- Leave a comment on this post and share your favorite homemade beverage. It can be hard or soft, simple or complex. OR, if you prefer, share something that’s on your to-make list.
- Comments will close at 11:59 pm east coast time on Saturday, November 1, 2014. The winner will be chosen at random and will be posted to the blog by the end of the day on Sunday, November 2, 2014.
- Giveaway is open to all.
- One comment per person, please. Entries must be left on the blog, I cannot accept submissions via email.
Disclosure: Roost Books sent me three copies of Quench. One was for photography and review purposes, and the other two were to give away. No additional compensation was required and, as always, all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely mine.
I always like a good margarita 🙂 homemade lemonade is a nice treat too!
I’m trying a homemade ginger beer right now! I’m also planning to get some champagne yeast and play with carbonation, but that might have to wait until after the holiday canning/sewing/bakefest.
I love making chai tea from scratch, with black tea, whole spices (cardamom, cinnamon stick, cloves, star anise), and milk and water. So good.
Now that I have a more workable kitchen I’m looking forward to making homemade rootbeer!
I’ve always wanted to make my own root and ginger beers. A little paranoid about beverage explosions, but the result should be worth it, right?
I love to make lavender lemonade!
Can,t help but my first drink I made in my early years in the kitchen. A big glass of whole milk with Hershey,s syrup.I,’ve come along way since then, but that drink was the best.
I love homemade lemonade made with my own raspberry syrup!
I am currently fermenting apples in a canning jar and hoping for apple wine. If it doesn’t work I will turn it into Apple cider vinegar!
coffee!
I make an incredible champagne cocktail. That’s my favorite. But the kids would say that my best is something my mother called “Mad Hatters’ Breakfast.” The recipe came from an Imperial Pure Cane Sugar cookbook for children from the 1970s that I got with proofs of purchase. A Tbsp. of sugar, a few drops of vanilla, two cups of milk and a raw egg, whirred in the blender until frothy. Yes, it’s essentially vanilla ice cream that hasn’t been frozen yet. But it makes a reasonably healthy, very fast, and quite protein heavy breakfast!
My favorite beverage to make is iced Peach Passion Tea from Celestial Seasonings–and of course cold brew coffee.
peppermint schnopps 🙂
My kids love making lemonade. They squeeze the lemons and I pour the juice, sugar, water and (our secret ingredient) a pinch of salt into a water bottle. After sealing it tight, the kids go to work shaking it until all of the sugar has dissolved.
I like to brew herbal tisanes with hibiscus, rose petals and a bit of rosemary.
This book looks quite intriguing. Awhile ago I had some lemons that were going to go bad if not used. I made lemonade added some mint simple syrup and a jigger of spiced rum. Served over ice on that hot day. It was really good.
We had to improvise one time when we were in a vacation rental in New York. Wanted Margarita’s but we didn’t have a shot glass so we measured out 3 spoonfuls of Tequila, 2 of triple sec and a squeeze of lime. Added ice and it was perfect.
margaritas!
I love homemade ginger beer, made in an old soda bottle with fresh ginger, sugar, and baker’s yeast.
I recently started keeping a giant mason jar full of concocted summer drinks in the fridge. The kids are always excited to see what fancy “ade” I have mixed up. The best have herbs or berries fresh picked from outside the house.
My most recent favorite homemade beverage, is lemongrass ginger sparkler, made with infused ginger lemongrass syrup and sparkling H2O.
thanks,
mac
a classic mojito has been on my list for awhile but so has homemade lemonade! 🙂
I love apple pie cider with some cinnamon and ginger and vanilla
Cucumber watermelon water! So easy and refreshing. 🙂
Whiskey sour!
I love my homemade rhubarb wine… especially in the heat of the summer months shared with friends.
i love homemade lemonade!
Homemade ginger ale, made with local ginger.
My homemade lemonade is great, but I would love to make ginger beer.
I admit it… I am a die hard coffee drinker. But every now and then a classic cocktail does me just fine!
Thank you for the great giveaway opportunity. This book looks fab!
Mulled wine. “Mexican mocha” – a Mexican hot chocolate with a little strong coffee added to cut the richness. Mint tea from my own garden! Cape Cods (cranberry juice with rum – the difference between silver and spiced dark rum in this is amazing). The black cherry wine I made a couple summers ago wasn’t bad, but I hope for even better from the dandelion wine I now have brewing.
Skeeter pee! I know it sounds gross, but it’s a super easy homemade lemon wine that is perfect for summer. It’s “stickied” on most of the home brew forums I’ve visited, or just google it. Seriously delish.
My all time favorite homemade drink is hot cocoa. Brings back memories of being a kid and our Mom making hot cocoa with marshmallows and telling us scary stories out on the porch.
I love making homemade Arnold Palmers (half iced tea-half lemonade) in the summer!
I love making my own herbal teas. I grow lemon balm, bee balm, mints, sages and all make lovely teas when dried. Lemon balm tea is quite relaxing, and sage tea has a mild diuretic effect that helps with respiratory infections.
homemade hot chocolate
sweet minted iced tea made with fresh mint from my garden or also homemade strawberry lemonade!
Ooh and how could I forget my husbands home brewed beer!
I am just about to try beet kvass!
I have been experimenting with a ginger bug, trying to do a strawberry soda with it right now.
My newest obsession is cordials. I have a jar of rhubarb cordial almost ready for tasting. Spiced pear is next on the list.
I made a drink in the garden this summer with gin, simple syrup, tonic, and muddled lemon verbena. Excellent.
I love making homemade hard cider!
I keep wanting to try a grape soda but I haven’t gotten there yet. I love shrubs but what other people love is the ginger liqueur that I make.
tonic/club soda mixed with bitters is an upset stomach aid and actually tastes good.
something else kind of odd that I have to say is surprisingly delicious is hot water with lemon and a bit of salt. It’s the drink that ghandi asked for when he ended his fasting.
I got a NutriBullet for Christmas last year and have been having so much fun experimenting with cocktails (my way to get healthy). My discovered my favorite when my melons started ripening in the garden. I like watermelon the best, but cantaloupe is a closer runner up. You just put the fruit in the mixer with some water and puree. Rim your glass with coarse salt. Put 1/2 – 1 whole seeded jalapeno in glass with a bit of vodka, then fill with fruit puree. So refreshing with a bit of a bite. And I must say it is quite healthy too 🙂
Classic Gin and Tonic! Yum!
Especially this time of year, I love to make mulled cider and mulled wine. The mix of hot drink and seasonal spices makes me feel cozy as the weather gets cooler!
Sounds amazing! Need to brush up on my bar tending skills. Thanks for the great giveaway!
Raspberry infused vodka.
Cruel Mule (Moscow Mule with the rim of the glass rubbed with jalapeno)…yum!
There is nothing better than fresh squeezed orange juice! (Especially if someone else does the squeezing!)
I love homemade lemonade, it is my favorite non-alcoholic drink. My favorite alcoholic drink to date is homemade kahlua.
I love making spiced chai, using whole fresh spices and coconut milk.
Enjoying the grape shrub I recently made.
Infused chamomile rose water tea
I like to make my own eggnog.
I love freshly brewed coffee (not complicated, but makes my mornings brighter!).
My fav homemade drink is simple – I add fresh ginger and honey to spice up a mug of hot tea. I would definitely enjoy reading all the drink recipes in Quench!
I’ve made ‘Queen’s Anne Lace” lemonade in the summer the past few years. Syrupy and nice over ice with some carbonated water (also can be turned into a nice jelly… Got a 1st in Misc.Jellies at the county fair this past summer). Made a rhubarb shrub this past summer as well, and a batch of rhubarb bitters (had to get a couple of the herbs for the bittering mail-order from Penn Herb Company in Philly).
Am making my first attempt at wine this year… have two gallons of wild grape (had already made jelly), and pulled some frozen gooseberries out of the freezer and have a bucket fermenting of that (had made both gooseberry jam and gooseberry jelly back in August).
Cherry shrub! I really want to start making some infused spirits too.
Coffee! We love it, have to have some every morning.
I love to make ginger simple syrup and mix it with some fizzy water (and dark rum, if I’m feeling it).
I’m sort of a boring classic. I love my gin and tonic and have recently started exploring home made tonics and nothing beats the fresh-groundbeans-pour-the-water-through-the-filter coffee in the morning
I’m intrigued by the idea of making my own mixers, infusions and flavorings! Thanks for showing us these interesting books and concepts!!
I love Kombucha (My favorite is flavored with Lingonberries) although I make a lot of different homemade drinks.
Home made Kahlua is fabulous! My stepdaughter’s version rocks!
I’m planning to try to make hard cider this year!
Rhubarb bitters kir: made with homed rhubarb bitters splashed in chilled sauvignon blanc.
We have begun making our own ginger beer and each batch gets better and better! The last one we added little tiny hot peppers to the mix for a bit of kick!
This book looks great! A favorite beverage of mine is chilled mint and lemonbalm tea on a summer day.
My favorite summer drink is lavendar lemonade with my homegrown lavendar…
Looks like a very interesting book. I love my fermented drinks.
Always on the hunt for a new recipe! Just tried and loved my first Brooklyn. Similar to a Manhattan but with amaretto instead of cherry juice – Delicious!
My favorite homemade drink thus far has been coffee liqueur, mostly for white russians. A close second would be the homemade grenadine. I like sweet drinks. 🙂 I’m looking forward to making cream soda next.
It is so boring but I’m afraid my favorite beverage is good ole sweetened iced tea.
As the cooler months roll around I get excited to make an old family favorite, Glug. Made of mulled cider and a favorite adult brown beverage!
Blueberry shrub is quite delicious especially as a mixer. 🙂
I love making lemoncello! My cordials have come in handy as well!
I would absolutely die without my coffee, love it!
I’ve been fascinated by drinking vinegars and shrubs lately
My dad’s winter wassail, with or without spiced rum…it’s the BEST!
Do fresh-squeezed juices count? I’ve been making OJ and pomegranate juices of late. I’m currently daydreaming about kombucha.
My homemade hot chocolate. Mmm…