I would buy this book just for the gorgeous photos! But the book is also informative and packed with tantalizing cocktail recipes that are divided by season. The book contains basic bartending skills as well as a history of how alcohol and magic have been intertwined, followed by a discussion of "Witchcraft Basics."

There are so many great cocktail recipes in this book, and I can't wait to try some of them out!

Witchcraft Cocktails is available from booksellers on 8 September 2020. Thanks to Julia Halina Hadas, Adams Media, and Net Galley for providing a review copy of this book.

I never really gave a thought to using alcohol along with spells; how novel! Of course, not being a drinker of alcohol it would never have occurred to me to add libations of any sort to my collection of spells! Nevertheless, I still enjoy reading about various alcoholic beverages to keep up with the times (Beer brewing, distillation, cordial making, etc...). Craft beers being all the rage and lately distillation of whisky has led to many new cocktails being created and I like to read about them. So, cocktail innovations regarding spellwork caught my eye and I had to take a peek at the book to see how it works!
Julia Halina Hada has certainly done a credible job of creating this book. Her book contains info on alcohol in history used not only in religion, but in healing and food preservation. Duh! It should have come to my mind! How did I not connect these? I like that she introduces, briefly, astrology, gems, tarot cards, herbs Wheel of the Wiccan year info for beginners , which may lead to other readers looking into those areas for study. There is also a chapter on bartending which may be of use.
The recipes themselves include syrups to mix in drinks (which I will immediately add to my growing collection syrups!) She arranges the cocktail by season, which makes sense. They are all intersting to read about and as a bonus can be made non-alcoholic! So there are some I can try! I enjoyed reading about how Ms. Hadas uses the drinks in her divinations, but I won't be using them,. All magic is unique to the individual so whatever works for the user is good. The Celebratory Sangria sounds fabulous for the current heat wave we're having here
This book would make a nice addition to a bar or drink book collection, bartenders may well enjoy passing on tidbits of info along with drinks! I think anyone interested in trying new cocktails will enjoy this book, pagan or not!

First up a big thank you to the publisher/Netgalley for allowing me to read this.

This did sound very interesting.. but after 30+ pages of explanations on everything.. I got bored. I skipped ahead. Still no cocktails. It isn't until page 75 til the cocktails start. Wayyy to late for me. I don't want to skip a third of a book just to get to somewhere that I want to read. My eyes can't read that much tiny font on a computer. Maybe if I ever find this book in a store I will give it another shot. Though given I live in a country where English books aren't easy to find, I guess that is a little chance. Plus, given that this is an ecopy when I did get to the cocktails the photographs didn't work out too well, and I found it a shame not all cocktails got a photograph. I do love cookbooks for big part because of the photographs that entice me to either make it or not. :)
I am still glad I got the chance to try it. But the tiny font and the too long explanations are just not my cup of cocktail. I give it 3 stars because of the cocktails I read were fun, I did like some pieces of the explanation + I like this is a witchcraft cocktail book.

*I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I really love reading cookbooks, but to be honest, I'm a harder sell for mixology books because I'm pretty clueless about alcohol. Basically, I know it gets you drunk and sometimes it tastes better than other times! I usually only go for themed mixology books, like Tequila Mockingbird and Gone With the Gin. So taking a mixology book and fusing it with elements of witchcraft and paired crystal magic -- that part was actually an easy sell for me.

The book provides a brief, but comprehensive, introduction to how alcohol and magic have historically been interwined, follows up with modern attitudes toward both witchcraft and alcohol consumption, as well as a word about responsible alcohol consumption. Then, it provides the same sort of introduction to mixology, from tools of the trade to techniques. Next, it brings together the sacred elements of ritual and intention with technical elements of preparation, as well as making sure your prep area is clean psychically and for the best results.

The book contains recipes for syrups, bitters, and "shrubs" (a new one for me!) that are used throughout the book's recipes, but that an adventurous mixologist (or someone feeling fancy in quarantine!) can experiment with to create their own signature drink.

Part 2 of the book is the recipes themselves, which are categorized into seasons. If gin's not your jam, don't worry -- whatever your drink of choice, it's represented in the recipes. Even better -- there's a recipe in here that will make that one drink you don't like (for me, that's scotch) and make you think, "Well, that actually sounds pretty good."

First set of drinks I plan on making:
(Your mileage may vary)

Fall - Stinging Scorpion, Witch's Cauldron
Winter - Golden Ram, Imbolc Cleansing Lemon Drop
Spring - The Green Man (bonus, if you're a Type O Negative fan!!), Love's Lucky Potion
Summer - Lavender Sazerac, Siren's Song

I would say that I've got over half the book tagged with recipes I want to try, and quarantine is the ideal time to try it out. I am excited especially to test out some of these drinks for summer holidays and full moons.

WOW! I hardly ever give 5 stars, I reserve that distinction for books that are for some reason beloved, that I cherish, books that are like precious treasures that you take out and polish for when the days are dark, or you are in need of comfort or a walk down memory lane... or whatever.

There are many reasons why a book can be considered exceptional to someone, and this one has a bunch of them. It is so absolutely my cup of tea (or cup of Persephone's Descent, if you will). Here you will find information on crystals, a bit about the tarot, tips on various types of alcohol and why you would use them with specific herbs, and how to charge water with moonlight. Or ice, because who wants a 'stale' drink?

You'll discover edible elements and why you need them, rubbing shoulders with aligning your intentions and the reasons you would (or should) add bitters. Herbal infusions, syrups, and handcrafted extracts will make your fingers tingle, and the photography is something to see, each drink is as pretty, bewitching or exquisite as the last!

You will be dipping into this pretty little chest of wonders many times, and even if your inclinations do not lean towards the magical, the cocktail recipes are seriously out of this world. If the Night Circus came to life, they'd be drinking these drinks. It is the perfect gift for witchy souls. And then some.

Many (many) thanks to Net Galley, Adams Media, and Julia Halina Hadas for this spellbinding collection of enchanting concotions.

Witchcraft Cocktails starts off as any good witchy cookbook should, by regaling the reader with the history of how these ingredients relate to our craft and the purposes they can serve; in this case, a quick glimpse at the history of ancient witches utilizing spirits in their craft and a short explanation of why alcohol can be such a valuable part of spellwork. It then launches into a chapter of definitions and correlations that I thought were so interesting (such as using rum for neutralizing negativity), so this book really lays down a solid guideline before getting down to the recipes. Also, the tip about using moon water for your ice cubes to imbue lunar magic into your drinks? Brilliant. This is the kind of stuff I'm here for.

Side note: the aforementioned basics chapter also describes many bartending techniques that have nothing to do with magic, such as how to express a peel, double straining, etc. — which leads me to believe even non-witches could learn a lot from this one!

Then, the author moves on to more craft-specific needs, such as attuning drinks to astrological bodies during retrogrades, and even basic information that I think will be especially helpful for new witches — quick notes on astrological phases, sabbats, and more.While this section doesn't attribute strictly to the drink recipes, the author explains that it's good information to know as you can attune specific spellwork types to certain times of year.

Finally, we get to the recipe section of the book, where the author's attention to detail continues by kicking off with recipes for bitters, simple syrups, and more. Most (though not all) of the recipes come with pictures, and each one is absolutely gorgeous! My favorite part, aside from how freaking delicious these drinks sound, is the "advanced magic" section at the bottom of each recipe, where advice is given for a tarot card or crystal pairing.

As far as the drink recipes themselves go, these were right up my alley for the most part. There are a lot of fairly sweet cocktails here, but I think even people who don't enjoy sweet drinks will find plenty to love. As someone who doesn't drink very often, I especially appreciated how many of these drinks could very easily be made alcohol-free (like The Prosperous Pumpkin, which I can't wait to try out this fall).

Overall, I think this is an absolutely fantastic recipe book that will be a great addition to the shelf of any alcohol-drinking witch, and even many non-witches. The recipes are well-crafted (which makes sense after learning the author is a long-practicing bartender!) and unique, the information on magic is informative yet brief and intriguing, and the layout of the whole thing is stunning. I definitely plan on picking up a finished copy for my shelf.

Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this review copy in exchange for an honest review!

This is a beautiful book that explores the connection between alcohol, concoctions and witchcraft. The historical context is provided in an engaging way and the photos within the book are stunning. I made one recipe which tasted great, but have to slowly build up my ingredients to make the others as some ingredients are a little harder to get. If you are interested in witchcraft and cocktails you will love this.

This was such a fun cocktail book, especially if you are into witchcraft! I loved how the recipes were broken down into seasons, and that there were lots of beautiful photos to show what the cocktails would look like. The instructions were easy to follow, and the author did a wonderful job of intertwining different witchcraft topics (i.e. chakras, tarot, edible elements like flowers, etc.) in a seamless way to where it never felt overwhelming.

Overall, this was a really nice and unique cocktail book that any level can easily use! I will definitely be buying this as a gift for some of my friends when it is released!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this opportunity!

No better time for a book of cocktails, especially witchy ones. I've made one of the drinks so far and it was grand. Enjoy!

A lot of great recipes in here to add a little magick to any holiday. My favorite, that I have tired so far, is the Yule Mule (yes, I know it isn't the right time of the year). However, I think the best thing about this book is that even if you find the drink isn't exactly to your taste, you can use the drinks as a base and doctor them up to create the perfect cocktails for you and any occasion. The author gives you correspondences and a lot of inspiration to assist in making beverages that are right to you.

Such a fun book for anyone into witchcraft/witchcraft-y things. The recipes are easy to follow with detailed information for newbies! I love that the cocktail recipes are split up into seasonal drinks, making it easier for you to find an appropriate recipe for when you're looking. the pictures included are gorgeous and helpful to know what the drink should look like - and it adds wonderfully to the general aesthetic of the book.

The writing felt very clunky, and the conversations and actions between the characters stilted and not a natural flow - wade grabs her arm continually in one chapter, which wouldn’t happen or at the very least wouldn’t be repeated every time he spoke to Autumn

It felt very repetitive in the thoughts/ conversations. Because of this it was impossible to read past the first few hundred pages and it was just not engaging enough to continue with.

Those who practice infuse magic into everything they do and this book is a great way to infuse your magic into libations. Whether you are crafting a cocktail for yourself, friends, family or a dinner party, this book has you covered. 



The book is ambitious in that it covers so many topics in addition to crafting cocktails. it ties it back into the Wheel of the Year, Tarot, Seasons, astrological signs etc. Normally I would be hesitant as that’s a lot of ground to cover, but the author delivers extremely well. The best part is that not only do you get recipes for cocktails, there is so much information in the book that you can craft your own with intent and purpose based upon your ingredients. A FABULOUS way to infuse magic into all aspects of your life.

I recommend this book for the practitioner that wants to infuse magic in new ways. A book to add to your library for sure.

WitchCraft Cocktails is a fun cookbook combining witchcraft and cocktails. The recipes are divided in terms of seasons, so it's easy enough to find a cocktail suitable for an autumn night in front of the fireplace or whatever your need is.

This is the best cocktail book I've ever seen! It's gorgeous, the pictures are very pretty and there are so many unique and great cocktail's recipes! The part 1 is all about the ingredients, alcohol, drinkware, tools, and some syrup recipes that will be using in the cocktail's recipes. Then the part 2 has all the recipes divided by season. It's a great and pretty book! I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is everything I could ever want in a cocktail book. This book is filled with absolutely magical and bewitching recipes! I can't wait to try each and every single one of them. The instructions are easy to follow and it has a guide on the tools, herbs, and other useful information for a fun witchy cocktail drink. I found the drinks to be whimsical and the names to be perfect. This is an absolute gem of a cocktail recipe book!

Loved this book. Beautiful pictures, Brief intro to crystals, tarots, chakras. Great drink recipes. I can't wait to try some of these drinks.