5 Holiday Cocktail Books to Make You the Host or Hostess with the Mostest

Cocktails for a Crowd: More than 40 Recipes for Making Popular Drinks in Party-Pleasing Batches, by Kara Newman and Teri Lyn Fisher
Written by Wine Enthusiast’s spirits editor, Kara Newman, Cocktails for a Crowd instructs eager readers on how to mix large-batch cocktails. Creating a punch bowl with craft cocktail refinement is a sure crowd pleaser at any holiday party, allowing the host to thoughtfully cater to guests en masse. Cocktail favorites reimagined as punches and pitchers include French 75 Punch, Raspberry Bellini, Classic Caipirinhas, and Piña Coladas. Add a literal cherry on the top by taking Newman’s tips for garnishes.

Cocktails for the Holidays: Festive Drinks to Celebrate the Season, by Editors of Imbibe Magazine and Lara Ferroni
When it comes to fantastic cocktails, readers can rely on the editors of Imbibe Magazine to carry the torch…particularly if that torch is filled with booze. Their book, Cocktails for the Holidays: Festive Drinks to Celebrate the Season, is perfect for those who love to host theme parties. In the “Classics, New & Old” section, readers will find delightful drinks like Spice Nog Flip and Fairytale of New York, then cozy up to some “Winter Warmers” such as Fernet Apple Toddy and the Cinnamon-Campari Sidecar.

Christmas Confessions and Cocktails: A Humorous Holiday Memoir with Sassy Drink Recipes, by Vicki Lesage
One of the best cocktail pairings is great conversation, and reading through Vicki Lesage’s Christmas Confessions and Cocktails: A Humorous Holiday Memoir feels like catching up with a hilarious friend. This piece of nonfiction is full of entertaining anecdotes as well as simple, seasonal recipes like Christmas Cosmo (and tongue-in-cheek ones like Hair of the Dog).

New York Cocktails, by Amanda Schuster
New York is one of the hottest (figuratively, not literally!) tourist destinations to visit over the winter break. Its over-the-top holiday decorations, the added lights to the already bright city, the food, the shopping, and of course, the artisan cocktails draw visitors far and wide. Bring a little bite of the Big Apple into any town with New York Cocktails, written by Senior Editor-in-Chief of the Alcohol Professor, Amanda Schuster. Stroll and sip through NYC as Schuster takes readers on a libatious guide of the city’s most coveted cocktail lounges.

Winter Cocktails: Mulled Ciders, Hot Toddies, Punches, Pitchers, and Cocktail Party Snacks, by Maria del Mar Sacasa and Tara Striano 
Maria del Mar Sacasa wears many hats as recipe developer, food stylist, and writer. She also knows how to throw a great party, as evidenced by her book, Winter Cocktails: Mulled Ciders, Hot Toddies, Punches, Pitchers, and Cocktail Party Snacks. These cocktails evoke a cozy fireplace, with treats like Hot Buttered Rum, English Christmas Punch, and Pumpkin-Bourbon Eggnog. But wait, there’s more! No fete is complete without some appetizers, and fortunately there is a portion of the book dedicated to edibles.
What books have helped you throw lavish and boozy winter parties?