Can I Mix You a Drink. T-PAIN, Maxwell Britten. 2021. Kingston Imperial. 144 pages. [Source: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.]
Every time I pick up this book, I hear a familiar refrain in my head after reading the title,
“… and theeen, I’ma take you home with meee.” (“Buy You a Drank“)
I expected nothing less than clever quips and ridiculous stories from T-Pain. It goes without saying that he’s a talented musician, but I’ve always enjoyed his presence which comes across as him just being a really funny, relatable guy who’s here for a good time and wants to pull you in on the fun. The kind person you can’t be around for long before he says something to make you actually laugh out loud.
Thus was my experience with Can I Mix You a Drink. From the introduction, in which he shares his own introduction to alcohol with a humorous, yet concerning anecdote, it’s clear this book will take you on a ride that’ll have you laughing all the way to your home bar set-up.
Can I Mix You a Drink highlights 50 cocktails inspired by songs from T-Pain’s catalog. Each recipe features key details that you expect from mixology: the style (shaken or stirred), the alcohol base, full ingredient list, recommended glassware, ice (where applicable), garnish (because you’re fancy), tools, and finally, the methodology. Some cocktails have additional notes about particular ingredients, such as recommended brands, where to acquire them, or recipes for an ingredient (e.g. simple syrup). Accompanying each recipe is the drink itself, presented in all its high-definition glory. The photos are appetizing and do a great job of highlighting each drink’s unique characteristic or ingredient. Interspersed among the recipes are tidbits of T-Pain wisdom. He offers drinking game suggestions, golden rules of drinking, his best practices for “watching the art of exotic dance,” and how to drink (relatively) responsibly.
I appreciate that Can I Mix You a Drink features 50 recipes, and regardless of your bartending skill level or tastes, you can find something you can recreate. I was very impressed with the range of recipes. There are, of course, some familiar recipe combinations with common flavors. Then, however, some recipes have unique or less common ingredients like CBD oil, infused liquors and techniques that will stretch your bartending capabilities. This is, perhaps, what I enjoy most about this book overall — if you’re not well-versed in the complexities and possibilities of cocktails, this book is a fun introduction. There are plenty options to choose from with simple instructions to replicate and gorgeous photos to compare your creation to. Can I Mix You a Drink makes mixology more accessible and far less daunting than I’ve come across before.
I recommend this book for fans of T-Pain or his music, fans of alcohol, fans of humor … you get the point. This is a book by an author who doesn’t take himself too seriously, so you shouldn’t either. Grab some friends, start a game of recreating the recipes, and “make some bad decisions in the comfort of our own homes.”
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