A stunning collection of 70 witchcraft-inspired drink recipes with inspiration for creating your very own spirited cocktails to benefit your practice. For centuries, witches have been using spirits of all forms during rituals and celebrations. Now, today’s modern witch can learn how to make the perfect powerful witchcraft cocktail. All you need is a delicious and easy recipe, a bottle of your … recipe, a bottle of your favorite booze, and a desire to get witchy. In WitchCraft Cocktails, you will find 70 recipes for alcohol-based beverages that are sure to help you in your craft. Designed for healing, spells, offerings, and just plain fun, there’s nothing these boozy drinks can’t do! Need a love potion to help woo your lover? Maybe a tincture to heal a cold? Or perhaps you’re looking for the perfect witch-themed signature cocktail to serve at your next gathering. Regardless of what you’re looking for, this book has you covered and includes tips on how to use your witch’s brew to further your practice–and have fun!
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Witchcraft Cocktails by Julia Halina Hadas
70 Seasonal Drinks Infused with Magic and Ritual
Gorgeous, gracious, generous, and greatly appreciated by me – this is a book I would love to have in my collection!
What I liked:
* The stunning photographs took my breath away
* The stemware and tools were divine
* The seriousness of the book along with the fun
* The idea of enhancing spells while also inspiring specific energies
* That Basic Bartending and Basic Witchcraft were addressed
* Moderation and Responsibility were mentioned as ways of creating nonalcoholic beverages were given
* The idea that bartending tools should be enchanted/blessed
* The depth of the book with information about elements, purpose behind creating recipes, intention, words to use, magical elements with information about astrological bodies and signs, moon phases, chakras, crystals, tarot and edible elements included
* The way recipes were presented for cocktails with description, information about the drink, ingredients, energies being called to/for, and advanced workings to add to/enhance the beverage
* The names of the drinks and how they were set up by season
* The section on herbal intentions and metric conversions
* The basic drinks section
* I just loved the book and may ask someone to buy it for me and bring it next time they visit!
What I didn’t like:
* Not having the book in my hand to enjoy right now.
Did I like this book? Yes – absolutely loved it!
Thank you to Net Galley and Adams Media for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Increase Your Kitchen Witch Cred
What a fun book of cocktails meant for those who consider themselves witches or who practice pagan magic. The book starts much like any other cocktail book, describing barkeeping basics like different types of alcohol and tools of the trade. Then it gets more interesting. There’s also an introductory section about what the authors call “Witchcraft Basics.” In this section, she talks about various magical associations like planets, sun signs, tarot major arcana, and crystals and gemstones. The final introductory chapter provides recipes for infused syrups that can be made ahead for use in the cocktails. After all this preparation, we finally get to the cocktails, which are divided by season starting with fall. Each drink has a photograph—which I always appreciate—though some drinks are obscured in the winter section because they are in mugs, not cocktail glasses. The cocktail combinations sound yummy and look very inviting. Some colors achieved are stunning, like a light purple or deep red. For each recipe, the author provides the drink’s seasonal context, whether it’s a holiday, a named moon (e.g., Snow Moon Psychic cocktail), a new astrological sign, or something else associated with the season (e.g., The Prosperous Pumpkin cocktail). At the bottom of each page, the author also shares an “advanced” magic strategy that involves a tarot card or crystal. Fun stuff! If you enjoy cocktails and find the idea of making magical ones intriguing, you may very well find this book a treasure trove of tasty delights.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Witchcraft Cocktails earns 5+/5 Sips of Magic…Aaaah!
I have been exploring many facets of witchcraft lore and history along with Wicca beliefs and rituals, and as part of that journey, I have found Julia Halina Hadas, “practicing witch, bartender, and craft cocktail fanatic.” “Witchcraft Cocktails,” a gorgeous book with lovely photos (my favorite element of any recipe book), is a delightfully entertaining and informational guide. Across the ages infusing potent potables with magic and ritual has been an integral part of the culture and lifestyle, and in this book, I am eager to see how I might be able to incorporate such practices to expand my experiences along with improving and enriching my life…and maybe having a little fun, too.
Don’t just go straight to any of the seventy enticing recipes; start with the well-written and informative Part 1: The World of Witchcraft and Alcohol, a reference I will reread often. I was fascinated by the historical connections between alcohol and witchcraft: spiritual practices of the ancient Sumerians, offerings to deities, and brewing as a magical act using all four elements. The next chapter, “Bartender Basics,” is a mini, easy to understand lesson on alcohol types, tools, drinkware, and terminology. I spent a lot of time on “Witchcraft Basics” that provided a comprehensive review on witchcraft elements, some items of which I had little knowledge: astrological bodies and signs, Wiccan key seasonal celebrations, moon phases, chakras, crystals, tarot, and edible elements. Last, is “Witchcraft Ingredients” that provided further explanation into witchcraft connections and simple recipes for “bitters, shrubs, and syrups” to enhance and elevate one’s concoctions.
Part 2: Magical Cocktails is the frosting on this cake! The seventy cocktails are organized into the four seasonal groups, starting with Fall, to take advantage of the inherent magical elements. The sections introduce the season with some insights and purposes. Each recipe is easy to-follow, but be prepared to use an infusion, bitter, shrub, or syrup found in the “Witchcraft Ingredients.” Each recipe, delightfully named (ex. Persephone’s Decent), begins with a brief introduction of the background (Do you know the story of Persephone?) and information about connections (explore and embrace a shadowy side), the ingredients (pomegranates), and maybe a suggestion for an alternate ingredient (replace tequila with mezcal). The recipe lists the reflective and celebratory “Energies” invoked (ie. Strength), serving size (1), ingredient list (I found a pre-made agave syrup), and easy-to-follow directions (shaken, not stirred). The recipe concludes with “Advanced Magic” (“The High Priestess” in tarot) which holds further insights, queries to consider, and suggestions. This cocktail was delicious; a perfect toast for the Autumn Equinox. But, tradition is not overlooked, as an A to Z list of “Classic Cocktails” are included for the purist along with a chart on “Herbal Intentions.”
I love this book! It is much more than a clever and creative bartender’s guide and recipe book perfect for fans of crafted cocktails. I didn’t know what to expect, and was pleasantly surprised with the depth of knowledge, beautiful photographs, and variety of libations. I have gained once again a valuable and unique reference on my spiritual journey.