Let’s Make Cocktails With Let’s Make Cocktails!

Written and art by Sarah Becan. Published by Ten Speed Graphic.

The comic book medium’s greatest strength is that it can communicate ideas visually at a pace the reader can control. Fiction tends to be the default option. However, comics are a valuable tool for non-fiction. A case in point is Sarah Becan’s Let’s Make Cocktails!, out this week, a cocktail recipe book in comic book form.

Let’s Make Cocktails! cover by Sarah Becan.

Split into different spirit types (e.g., gin, rum, vodka, non-alcoholic, etc.), Let’s Make Cocktails! highlights a different cocktail recipe on each page. IT features 60 recipes, featuring many classics, modern classics, and a few lesser-known sprinkled throughout. Beyond the comic book nature, what separates this from other cocktail books is how Becan provides brief historical context on the cocktail that the graphic novel is about to tell you how to make. This ranges from the story of the given cocktail’s creation, its cultural impact throughout the decades, or to highlight its versatility. In some instances, Becan illustrates images that visually represent her narration. Other times, she’s able to bring in the bartender who created a given drink and let them explain it in their own words. While brief, it provides a talking point while you prepare the drink for friends or family.

The recipes are clear and succinct. The top left-hand corner includes a box dedicated to the ingredients. Directly below it are suggestions for alterations. Depending on the drink, it could be ingredient substitutions or alternatives for those looking to be more adventurous.

Let’s Make Cocktails! spread by Sarah Becan.

The rest of the page focuses on the methods of preparation, with each panel being a step in the process. Here, Becan narrates what’s required at each step, accompanied by illustrated depictions. The combination of text and visuals makes each recipe step clear and easy to follow. Becan doesn’t complicate the process by adding too much instruction to any given step. For instance, if a step requires adding ingredients to a shaker, then that’s all it will communicate. While a step like that might not need a lot of visual aid, being self-explanatory in text, it’s a nice visual shorthand. Where visuals come in handy the most is in explaining things that are open to interpretation, especially to newbie home bartenders, such as the direction of cutting a lime or a stirring technique.

Just like its subject matter, Let’s Make Cocktails! is bright and colourful. The boldness of the colours makes the drinks look appealing, but it’s the use of white space that allows them to stand out. It also allows for each recipe step to stand out and be clearly communicated, with none of them being muddled with other elements. Even when Becan’s art is at its most loose, the strokes are still recognisable in what they depict. This is most obvious in its depiction of the spirit bottles, where the labels do not highlight names or logos, the arrangement of colours and the shape communicate the brand. (It appears to be a deliberate choice not to explicitly depict brands unless it’s necessary for a given recipe.) While those not in the know may not be able to identify the bottles while reading, they’re clear enough that you could identify them if you saw them in the liquor store.

So who is Let’s Make Cocktails! for? It’s definitely for beginners and those who want to expand their cocktail game beyond a handful of drinks. The graphic novel caters for these readers through the first 40 or so pages, teaching them all the essentials, ranging from understanding the tools and glassware to different preparation techniques. As a result, it’s a great Cocktails 101.

Sarah Becan has blended an excellent resource in Let’s Make Cocktails! The graphic novel is easy to read through its strong visual communication. This is coupled with its comprehensive nature, ensuring that the readers know the essentials to make the assortment of cocktails covered. As a result, it’s a great addition to any home bar.

Let’s Make Cocktails! can be found at all good comic book shops, online retailers, eBay, and Amazon/Kindle.