There’s been a renewed interest in the cocktail culture in the past few years, but it’s nothing new to Joy Perrine. In her nearly 50 years of tending bar, 25 of them at Equus Restaurant and Jack’s Lounge in Louisville, she’s created dozens of cocktails, many of them using bourbon as the foundation.
Two years ago, she teamed up with author Susan Reigler, a former restaurant critic and drinks writer for The Courier-Journal, to publish a collection of her recipes. The result was The Kentucky Bourbon Cocktail Book (The University Press of Kentucky, $14.95).
This beautiful 144-page book contains more than 100 recipes for bourbon cocktails, from classics like the Original Manhattan to Joy’s award-winning original creations, such as The Bourbonball, pictured on the cover. Each is illustrated with a sumptuous, thirst-inducing photograph by Pam Spaulding.
The recipes are bracketed by an opening chapter on the equipment the home bartender should have on hand and a closing one suggesting “Nibbles” to serve with cocktails. Joy also explains how to make the bourbon infusions that add color as well as flavor to many of the featured recipes.
The Kentucky Bourbon Cocktail Book would make a great gift for the aspiring mixologist. It’s available at Amazon.com.
