Girly Drinks
A World History of Women and Alcohol
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
*A Finalist for the Spirited Award for Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History or Spirits*
*A Guardian Best History and Politics Book of 2022*
“At last, the feminist history of booze we’ve been waiting for!” —Amy Stewart, author of The Drunken Botanist
The James Beard Award-winning history of women drinking through the ages
Strawberry daiquiris. Skinny martinis. Vodka sodas with lime. These are the cocktails that come in sleek-stemmed glasses, bright colors and fruity flavors—these are the Girly Drinks.
From the earliest days of civilization, alcohol has been at the center of social rituals and cultures worldwide. But when exactly did drinking become a gendered act? And why have bars long been considered “places for men” when, without women, they might not even exist?
With whip-smart insight and boundless curiosity, Girly Drinks unveils an entire untold history of the female distillers, drinkers and brewers who have played a vital role in the creation and consumption of alcohol, from ancient Sumerian beer goddess Ninkasi to iconic 1920s bartender Ada Coleman. Filling a crucial gap in culinary history, O’Meara dismantles the long-standing patriarchal traditions at the heart of these very drinking cultures, in the hope that readers everywhere can look to each celebrated woman in this book—and proudly have what she’s having.
Customer Reviews
A page turner! Hilarious, Smart, intriguing
Everything you never knew that you really wanted to know about the intimate and often times infuriating history of women and the creation of (and production) of booze around the world. Starting in prehistoric times and racing at breakneck speed from medieval nunneries to political victories amidst the beer brewing women of Apartheid South Africa and ground breaking Irish, Scottish and American of women of whiskey… it’s an eye opening (ur… thirst encouraging) honest look at how empowering and uplifting the feminine art of fermentation and distillation can be. Put this book at the top of your gift list, it’s perfection.