Drinking with My Dog

The Canine Lover's Cocktail Book

Contributors

By Natalie Bovis

Illustrated by Rae Ritchie

Formats and Prices

Price

$12.99

Price

$16.99 CAD

Format

Format:

  1. ebook $12.99 $16.99 CAD
  2. Hardcover $22.00 $28.00 CAD

This item is a preorder. Your payment method will be charged immediately, and the product is expected to ship on or around January 17, 2023. This date is subject to change due to shipping delays beyond our control.

Bestselling author, award-winning mixologist, and passionate animal advocate Natalie Bovis pairs fascinating doggie trivia with easy-to-make drink recipes in this unique cocktail book for dog lovers.

If there's one thing we know, it's that we can survive anything with a furry companion and a cocktail by our side. Enter Drinking with My Dog, which combines our devotion to dogs with celebratory drinks in this charming, pet-centric cocktail book from Natalie Bovis of The Liquid Muse. 

Inside you’ll find everything you need to know to set up your home bar and mix 60+ delicious cocktails organized into dog-themed chapters, featuring rescue dogs, famous furbabies, wild dogs, cocktails for pawlidays throughout the year, and more. Also included is canine history, whimsical illustrations, and toast-worthy quotes. Drinking with My Dog is the ideal companion for dog lovers and drink enthusiasts alike, and is the cocktail book we’ve always needed to help us raise a glass to wo/man’s best friend!
 

Excerpt

I’M NOT DRINKING ALONE;
I’M DRINKING WITH MY DOG!

—THE LIQUID MUSE




Introduction

SINCE THE DAWN OF HUMANITY, DOGS HAVE BEEN A PART OF our lives. All the furry floofs we love and live with today descend from some form of prehistoric wolflike canid who migrated across the Earth, as did early hominids. At some point along the way, both our predecessors looked at each other and decided they could, perhaps, create mutually beneficial alliances. And, just like that (well, okay, sort of just like that), dogs became our most trusted and loyal friends. Some people might even argue that they are also our most toast-worthy ones.

In more recent memory, when the world ground to a halt and we locked ourselves indoors, many folks instinctively adopted a canine companion to ease the isolation. Meanwhile, as our computer screens kept us connected with our communities, social media allowed us to show off our respective versions of a “quarantini.” If there is one takeaway from forced isolation, it’s that dogs and drinks make anything more bearable! My dog Lula was only too happy that instead of zooming off to happy hour with friends, I was having Zoom cocktail parties from home with her by my side.

We have so much to learn from and about dogs. Did you know that there are more than four hundred dog breeds in the world and—of the one billion canines that roam the planet—only one-quarter are pets? Dogs are intelligent, communicative beings, and in the coming pages, you will get to know them better. In addition to dozens of delicious cocktails, this book is dripping with fun facts about dog breeds and doggie trivia and history.

You’ll read celebrity pup stories, get a peek at the dogs who’ve lived with world leaders, and discover fun facts about dogs who still live in the wild all around the planet. Each chapter includes drink recipes honoring our furry friends, as well as plenty of home bartending tips. There’s also a whole section of dog-themed drinks to serve at year-round pawlidays and a guide to help you create a signature cocktail in your dog’s honor, whether you are shaking up your first cocktail ever or already have mad skills in mixology. Each recipe yields one drink, unless otherwise noted, and you will also find tips on making big batches for a party.

And this book saves lives by raising awareness! As the guardians of our own dogs and guardian angels of those in need, we can share stories about the canines who live on the planet with us. Getting to know these creatures more intimately inspires more people to advocate, volunteer, and donate to help them. I raise money for animal rescues through The Liquid Muse events and I hope to clink glasses with pet lovers and cocktail enthusiasts at book signings, fundraisers, and pet-friendly pop-up parties around the world. Now, let’s mix some cocktails in honor of our dogs, and stir up some good times together.




WE DOMESTICATED THESE ANIMALS TO DEPEND ON US FOR EVERYTHING. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF THEM AND TREAT THEM WITH THE LOVE AND RESPECT THEY DESERVE. THEY ARE SENTIENT BEINGS. EVERY DOG STORY I WRITE IS A LOVE LETTER BETWEEN HUMANS AND DOGS.

—W. BRUCE CAMERON, AUTHOR OF A DOG’S PURPOSE




IF YOU ELIMINATE SMOKING AND GAMBLING, YOU WILL BE AMAZED TO FIND THAT ALMOST ALL AN ENGLISHMAN’S PLEASURES CAN BE, AND MOSTLY ARE, SHARED BY HIS DOG.

—GEORGE BERNARD SHAW, PLAYWRIGHT




CHAPTER 1

YOUR HOME BAR

OBVIOUSLY, YOUR POOCH WON’T BE DRINKING THE HOOCH, but you might want to invite over your dog-loving human friends to taste your delicious concoctions. Making cocktails is fun, and you don’t have to be an expert in the kitchen or have bartending experience to make great drinks. You can also create a charming home bar whether you’re simply placing a few items on a cart in the corner of your living room or transforming your basement into the neighborhood watering hole. With a few bottles of spirits, a smattering of liqueurs, a cocktail shaker, and some fun glassware, you will show everyone that you are “top dog” when it comes to mixology.

Below, you’ll find a list of glassware to round out your collection as you become a serious home bartender. Don’t fret if you don’t have the funds or space for all of these. Even if you served every drink in this book in a paper cup, it would still taste delicious. If you do get into the spirit of collecting, though, I suggest perusing virtual or in-person flea markets and resale stores for cool vintage pieces. Also, keep an eye out for shelter thrift stores. Many rescue groups take donations of gently used clothing, glassware, furniture, and other household items to sell in their own secondhand market stalls or shops. I have found some of my most beautiful glassware at these, and I also donate to them regularly because the money from sales helps pay for pet food and vet bills. Who doesn’t love shopping for a good cause?

The glassware, bar tools, and ingredients in the following sections are a guide in case you’re ready to go all out, but don’t let these lists intimidate you. If you have a mason jar (instead of a cocktail shaker), a glass (of any kind), a tray of ice, some liquor, sugar, and lemons or limes, you can make many drinks in this book. And, at the risk of restating the obvious, do not give alcohol to your dog. All ingredients throughout this book are meant for human consumption only.

GLASSWARE

BAR MUG A thick glass with a handle for cold or warm drinks.

CHAMPAGNE FLUTE A long, narrow, stemmed glass used for sparkling drinks.

COCKTAIL COUPE / COCKTAIL GLASS The original wide-bowled Champagne glass, and also used for classic stirred cocktails.

HIGHBALL/COLLINS/TALL GLASS Ideal for fizzy drinks, with the Collins being a bit taller than the highball. Throughout this book, wherever directions suggest “strain over fresh ice in a tall glass,” you can use a shorter highball glass, a taller Collins glass, or even a tall water glass. Whatever you have on hand will work.

MARTINI/COCKTAIL GLASS This V-shaped cocktail glass holds every variation of “tini” drinks you can think of. It was traditionally called a “cocktail” glass, so throughout this book wherever directions suggest “strain into a cocktail glass,” rest assured that you can use any kind of cocktail glass you wish.

RED WINE GLASS A goblet with a wide rim allowing for more oxygen to react with the surface area of the wine, thereby allowing the flavors to “open.”

ROCKS/DOUBLE ROCKS GLASS A short, wide glass used for sipping spirits served neat/“up” or “on the rocks”—no ice and with ice, respectively. The double rocks is, obviously, a bit bigger than the plain rocks glass. Throughout this book, any drink that is served “up” in a cocktail glass could also be served “on the rocks” in a double rocks glass. Not everyone loves stemmed glassware, so any cocktail from a Cosmopolitan to a Martini can also be served over ice in one of these glasses.

WHITE WINE GLASS A smaller, tulip-shaped wine glass.

KITCHEN TOOLS AND APPLIANCES

BLENDER For blending frozen cocktails.

CUTTING BOARD AND PARING KNIFE For cutting fruits and veggies.

GRATER For grating ginger, nutmeg, and chocolate, for instance, and for zesting citrus peels.

ICE CUBE MOLDS Look for trays with fun shapes or larger openings. Larger cubes melt more slowly. When making ice blocks for a punch bowl or pitcher, use a small plastic tub (such as a yogurt or cottage cheese container). You can also use tonic water or juice in place of plain water so that as it melts it adds more flavor to the big-batched drink rather than water it down.

JUICER Freshly juiced fruits and vegetables make for more delicious cocktails.

MEASURING CUP For measuring batched drinks.

PEELER For taking the skins off fruits and veggies; helpful for making lemon or lime twists.

SMALL SAUCEPAN For cooking syrups or purees.

BASIC BAR TOOLS

BARSPOON Used to stir drinks, a barspoon has a long stem, with the spoon measuring about 1 teaspoon.

CITRUS PRESS This handheld kitchen tool is shaped like half an orange, lemon, or lime, and easily squeezes out juice while holding back seeds.

COCKTAIL SHAKER These can be both decorative and functional. A three-piece shaker has the strainer built in. A professional set of shaker tins has a larger and smaller tin that seal when shaking liquid. A Boston shaker has a tin that fits over the mouth of a pint glass. I like using these in my cocktail classes, because the students can see the ingredients as they go into the glass, making it easier to follow along. Next, we add ice and seal it with the metal tin over the top before shaking. With a Boston shaker, you will need to use a Hawthorne strainer, a round, slotted metal lid with a spring in it to hold back ice and other solids when pouring the liquid into the cocktail glass.

ICE SCOOP When you put out a bowl of ice at a party, you will need to provide an easy and sanitary way for people to scoop it into their glass.

JIGGER Measures liquids in ounces or milliliters.

MUDDLER Made from wood, plastic, or metal, a muddler is essentially a pestle with a long handle to reach the bottom of a cocktail shaker and is used to press the juice or oils from fruits and herbs.

SIEVE If you are shaking berries or muddling herbs, you might want to double strain your drink. To do this, hold a small sieve above the cocktail glass to catch little bits of mint leaves or berry seeds as the contents of the shaker pass through it, so they don’t get stuck in your teeth when you take a sip.

INGREDIENTS

BAKING SPICES Some of the recipes in this book call for spices, including cinnamon, cloves, or nutmeg.

CITRUS FRUITS Limes, lemons, oranges, and grapefruits are just a few of the fruits you’ll find in the recipes in this book.

CREAM Typically, drinks use heavy cream, but half-and-half can be substituted for anyone watching their fat intake. For those who prefer nondairy, coconut creamer is a good substitute.

EGGS Egg whites and egg yolks are used in a variety of drinks to add texture, mouthfeel, or froth. If you’re looking for a vegan substitute for egg whites in cocktails, try aquafaba or the liquid in a can of garbanzo beans found in any supermarket. See here for notes about adding raw egg to drinks.

FRESH HERBS Mint, basil, and thyme are most common in cocktail recipes, although you’ll find many recipes using other herbs, too.

FRUITS AND VEGGIES Just about any produce can be used in drinks, making for more fresh and flavorful beverages.

SEA SALT For rimming glasses. See here for a note about rimming glasses.

SUGAR Granulated white or raw is ideal for making syrups; note some vintage cocktail recipes call for a whole sugar cube or lump.

LAP IT UP IN STYLE

When serving cocktails, the glass is an important part of the overall drinking experience. We taste first with our eyes, so presentation counts. And, in proper cocktail-making etiquette, some drinks call for a specific type of glass. As you get into cocktail making, collecting beautiful stemware can become an obsession! I had to cut myself off from buying vintage cocktail glasses in much the same way I had to cut myself off from adopting more pets! Just as a little furry face pulls at my heartstrings, an early 1900s Champagne coupe or a mid-century gold-rimmed cocktail glass has me convincing myself that “just one more” is still not enough.

FETCH THE BOOZE!

Just as your pup’s face lights up when he sees his favorite ball, you might be surprised how much you enjoy showing off your newly honed cocktail skills. And you’ll find yourself seeking new “toys” at your favorite liquor store. I especially love bringing back an unusual spirit or liqueur from a trip to sip with friends while sharing travel stories—and photos of the dogs I met!—in faraway destinations. Whenever I land somewhere new, I try to understand how the people there eat and drink. It’s a peek into that culture’s local customs, tastes, and values. Also learning to make delicious things abroad is a very tactile way to share your experiences with your peeps back home.

Below is a list of spirits and other ingredients to create a foundation for your home bar. If this is new to you, don’t get overwhelmed because you do not need to have all of these things to get started. If you’re on a budget, buy bottles in increments. And, if you are particularly limited on space or funds, here is a little insider tip: Just about any cocktail can work with vodka in place of the spirit the recipe calls for. So, if you can only buy one bottle for now, make it vodka and add more spirits to your home bar as you can.

DISTILLED SPIRITS

Let’s demystify alcohol so that you can walk into a liquor store or shop online with confidence. Keep in mind that “more expensive” does not always translate to “better quality.” If you shop at a store that has knowledgeable clerks to help you choose the right product for you, that’s even better. The following list gives you an overview of the spirits used in this book, including what they’re made from and what they might taste like.




DOGS ARE NOT OUR WHOLE LIFE, BUT THEY MAKE OUR LIVES WHOLE.

—GEORGE BERNARD SHAW, PLAYWRIGHT




CHAPTER 2

RESCUE ME!

WALK INTO ANY SHELTER AND YOU’LL SEE SOME POOR FURBALL

Genre:

  • “Once upon a time, I was the only dog Natalie Bovis would drink with . . . I give this tome two paws up.”—Dan Dunn, host of "What We're Drinking with Dan Dunn"
  • "Drinking With My Dog combines my two favorite things—canines and cocktails! Dogs and drinks! My pooch and my hooch! I love mixing up one of these creative cocktail recipes while reading the interesting anecdotes aloud to my pup. As an animal advocate, I truly appreciate the book’s mission to create a better world for our four-legged friends."  —Zane Lamprey, comedian and host of "Three Sheets" and "Drinking Made Easy"
  • "Natalie Bovis’ delightful collection of cocktail recipes and dog stories is like traveling through history and around the world, and I cannot think of a more fun way to drink with your dog or drink to our love of dogs!"—Lili Chin, bestselling author of DOGGIE LANGUAGE
  • "Writer M. F. K. Fisher found solace in a solitary Martini. In Drinking with My Dog, Natalie Bovis (aka The Liquid Muse) finds solace drinking with her four-legged pal Lula by her side. Ms. Bovis is an award-winning mixologist and a dedicated animal rescue advocate; this is a great read for cocktail lovers and animal lovers alike!"
     
     —Dale DeGroff, aka King Cocktail, author and godfather of modern mixology
  • "A bar's best friend."—Tim Federle, bestselling author of TEQUILA MOCKINGBIRD
  • "Like any artist who lets daily life inspire her work, Natalie Bovis wonderfully unites her passion for pooches with fun, fact-filled, and heartwarming stories, perfect illustrations, and doggie-inspired drinks that transcend the mundane menu. Drinking with My Dog is guaranteed to warm your insides!"
     —Jeremy Greenberg, bestselling author of SORRY I BARFED ON YOUR BED
  • "Whether you want to learn new tricks or get yourself out of the proverbial doghouse, you will find yourself dog-earing these well-written pages brimming with canine and cocktail lore. Double-dog dare you not to have a howling good time with Drinking with My Dog!" —André Darlington, bestselling author of BOOZE & VINYL
  • "Drinking with My Dog is a lovely tribute to our canine companions, filled with lots of stories, fun facts, ways to support dog charities, and, of course, some great cocktails, from the Stray Dog Sour to the Dingo Baby. The illustrations and organization of the book make it a super fun and easy read. Highly recommend for dog lovers and cocktail drinkers alike!"—Kim Haasarud, Liquid Architecture LLC

On Sale
Jan 17, 2023
Page Count
144 pages
Publisher
Running Press
ISBN-13
9780762480234

Natalie Bovis

About the Author

Natalie Bovis is an award-winning mixologist, culinary event producer, and writer with a passion for cocktails and animal advocacy. She founded The Liquid Muse in 2006 and penned three cocktail books, including the bestselling Preggatinis (Globe Pequot, 2009). Natalie writes for national food and lifestyle magazines and has shaken up cocktails on television shows around the United States. She is the co-founder/CMO of OM Chocolate Liqueur and teaches mixology classes to global audiences online. When not writing, Natalie is traveling, cooking, or walking her rescue dogs in the mountains above Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

Rae Ritchie is a fabric designer and illustrator for greeting cards, stationery, gifts, and apparel, where her work is often inspired by the lushness of nature, classic children's books, and old photographs. Her clients include Los Angeles Times, Dear Stella Design, Fjallraven, Running Press, Workman Publishing, Peter Pauper Press, Feiwel & Friends, Compendium, Sellers Publishing, Design House Greetings, Manhattan Toy Company, and American Greetings. Rae lives with her daughter, husband, and cat, Nomi, in Minneapolis, MN.

Learn more about this author