Cincinnati mixologists and musicians Mayalou Banatwala (Heavy Hinges and Mynah Tones) and Kristen Kreft (The Perfect Children) have put together a new edition of their Rocktails book series, which feature cocktail recipes created in honor of various legendary musicians.
The new book, Cincinnati Rocktails: An Amped Up Spin on Mixology, has even more of a focus on musicians with Cincinnati ties, with recipes based on artists like James Brown, Nina Simone, Hank Ballard, Patti Page, Rusty York and Rosemary Clooney. The boozy concoctions are paired with historical insight about the artists’ connections to the city (and the drink).
The book’s production also has a lot of Cincinnati ties: Elliott Ruther of the Greater Cincinnati Music Heritage Foundation wrote the forward; Dylan Speeg (also a member of Heavy Hinges) provided drawings; Angie Lipscomb supplied photos; and Jeni Jenkins-Moore of locally-based print design studio Renegade Babe did the
layout. The book is published by Covington’s Roebling Books.
Banatwala and Kreft, who started the Rocktails project with in-person presentations around town featuring live music, are doing several events to promote the latest edition. Tonight (May 17), they’ll be at Caffè Vivace in Walnut Hills for the official release party. A collaboration with Queen City Cabaret, the 8 p.m. event will feature performances by local musicians Vincent Stroud, Matthew Umphreys and Sarah
Folsom, who will perform songs by many of the artists featured in the book. Cincinnati Rocktails will be available to purchase and Banatwala and Kreft will be on hand to whip up some of the cocktails for sampling. There is a $20 admission charge. Click here for more info.
On May 24, Kreft and Banatwala will do some of their own singing at a Findlay Market event to promote Cincinnati Rocktails. The pair will each be doing solo sets of their original music at the Market Biergarten (1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine. findlaymarket.org), along with a few Cincinnati classics. Music starts at 5 p.m. and the event is free.
Visit americanrocktails.com for more info.
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