As we get ready to welcome spring and the fun celebrations of the season, I’m reminded again of how often cocktails and mocktails are a part of these annual gatherings. I was delighted to have the opportunity to review a new book, Cocktails Southern Style by Belinda Smith-Sullivan, and share her Southern Mule Recipe with you today.
Welcome Spring with Southern- Inspired Cocktails!
My thanks to Gibbs Smith Books for the complimentary copy of Cocktails Southern Style and information for today's post.
About Cocktails Southern Style by Belinda Smith-Sullivan: Photographs by Lauren McDuffie Published: March 2025: Publisher: Gibbs Smith Books: Hardcover- 144 pages: Genre: Beverages, Cooking, Food, Wine
About The Author from Publisher:
“Belinda Smith-Sullivan is a chef, food writer, spice blends entrepreneur, and a commercially rated pilot. She has a culinary arts degree from Johnson & Wales University and writes a monthly column for South Carolina Living. She also is featured on South Carolina Living’s website with monthly how-to videos. Smith-Sullivan is an active member of the Southern Foodways Alliance, International Association of Culinary Professionals, American Culinary Federation, and Les Dames d’Escoffier. She lives in Winston-Salem, NC.”
Book Synopsis from Publisher:
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| Courtesy: Gibbs Smith Books |
“Get ready to sip, savor, and celebrate with the ultimate guide to Southern-inspired cocktails and entertaining! Cocktails, Southern Style: Pours, Drinks, Sips, and Bites by renowned chef Belinda Smith-Sullivan.
This book brings together approximately 90 recipes for classic cocktails, innovative flavor-profile drinks, and a bonus chapter packed with delectable nibbles to pair with your beverages. The book is a toast to the unmatched charm of Southern hospitality, where no drink is ever served without a perfectly paired treat.”
My Thoughts:
You’ll truly be the host or hostess with the ‘most-ess” once you read Cocktails Southern Style. I found this book to be a delight to flip through. The photographs brought the cocktails to life and made me yearn for a bar cart that I could outfit with the essentials Smith-Sullivan suggests in the Introduction of this comprehensive cocktail book. I suggest you start here because the intro covers important information on:
- Anatomy of a Cocktail
- Elements Cocktails Consist Of
- Strategies for Creating Your Signature Cocktails
- The 2:1:1 Ratio/Formula
- The Golden Rules of Bartending
- Cocktail Making Equipment
I read this section twice, dreaming of a bar cart my husband and I would use when we entertained. And, when it's not in use, it would look nice tucked away in a corner of our home when not in use.
I set one up in my LTK shop if you’d like some ideas on setting up your bar cart. This contains affiliate links and I may receive commissions on purchases should you shop with them. Thank you.
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| Courtesy LTK |
I added a shopping link to the Cocktails Southern Style book to my bar cart shopping list. I think it makes sense to keep the wonderful cocktail recipes handy.
Some Cocktail Recipes I can’t wait to Try:
- Merry Cranberry Mimosa
- Irish Coffee
- Cider Sidecar
- Loaded Bloody Mary
- Paloma
- Tennessee Iced Tea
- Coconut Mojito
And, of course, the Southern Mule. A mule is a cocktail made with vodka, ginger beer, and lime, served in a copper mug. This Southern mule is made with Cathead Vodka from Mississippi and Wild Ginger ginger beer in Tennessee.
Southern Mule Recipe: Serves 1:
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| Courtesy: Gibbs Smith Books |
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka
- 1/4 Lime
- 4 ounces Wild Ginger ginger beer
- Fresh mint, lime wheels, and edible wildflowers, for garnish
- Glass: Copper Mug
Directions:
Fill the copper cup with crushed ice. Add the vodka, squeeze in the lime juice, and drop the lime into the cup. Top with the ginger beer and garnish as desired.
Enjoy!
The Takeaway:
I love learning new ways of entertaining and making my guests feel welcome. I think my copy of Cocktails Southern Style will be used often during holidays and celebrations. I ivite you to learn more about this book and the author at GibbsSmithBooks.com.
Please share in comments: Do you enjoy making cocktails and mocktails?
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