Booze and Books: A Drink/Book Pairing Menu Part I
Hello lovely readers! I hope everyone is doing well as we slowly approach Spring.
Every day, I start my morning with 1-2 piping hot cups of English Breakfast tea with milk and sugar. I do need the caffeine, I am a toddler mom after all, but I enjoy the ritual of a hot beverage even more. Life is chaotic and we need to find moments of enjoyment in the everyday. Books, my other daily pleasure, hold a similar value to my tea- a pleasure to be savored, coming in a variety of flavors. For today’s post, I thought it would be fun to look at some classic books and drink pairings that I believe would equate to a luxury experience. Originally I was planning to do one post which would contain both alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks, but while writing I realized I had too many pairing ideas and felt combining would make the post feel too jumbled. So, this week will be the alcoholic drinks and part two will feature non-alcoholic beverages. So sit back, grab a drink of your own, and enjoy!
Whisky and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes- Sherlock Holmes, the genius British detective, enjoys a variety of beverages throughout his stories. I chose whisky because it feels like the right drink to sip on while solving crimes alongside this complex sleuth.
Rum with A Moveable Feast: Ernest Hemingway is well known for his minimalist writing style and love of a good drink. A Moveable Feast is the memoir of his time in Paris, where he and other artists lived after WWI. Rum is a good mixer drink, much like Hemingway with his fellow ex-pats. Also, Hemingway famously loved Daquiris, a cocktail made with rum. That sealed this pairing for me.
Port and A Christmas Carol: This is one of my favorite books to read at Christmas time. Port has a beautiful mix of sweet and spices that make me feel in the holiday mood. I imagine sipping this, reading A Christmas Carol with a roaring fire, and a big comfy chair to melt into and read the hours away.
Cabernet and Rebecca : Cabernet Sauvignon is my go to when I am searching for a lovely wine. It is rich and complex in terms of its flavors, much like the gothic tale Rebecca. Both this wine and accompanying tale will hit you with layers of flavor and plot that will keep you coming back for more.
Merlot and Dracula: The full bodied, rich red color of a merlot pairs well with this horror classic. More dry than a Cabernet, this easy to drink wine would look and taste wonderful in a goblet while falling deeper under Count Dracula’s spell.
Champagne and The Great Gatsby: This feels like an obvious choice but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! Jay Gatsby throws lavish parties throughout the book and champagne is the perfect, celebratory drink. But be careful- too much of a good thing can lead to complications and heartache as Jay and our narrator finds out.
Beer/Ale or Mead and The Lord of the Rings trilogy: Readers who have been around a while know I am reading/listening my way through this trilogy (having already read The Hobbit multiple times). I am enjoying it immensely and want a companion drink that enhances that enjoyment. I am not a beer drinker but the hobbits love nothing more than good food, good company, and ale. If I was being specific to me, I would pair it with mead. The golden color and sweetness from the honey make me think of fantasy and wonder. But both are an excellent choice!
This has been an interesting thought experiment and I hope you enjoyed it! Do you agree with these pairings? Any changes or anything to add? Feel free to comment below or on our Facebook page (just search Lady Bookish). Keep an eye out for the next post where we dive into other non alcoholic drink/book pairings!
Happy Reading!
Lady Bookish