Sphere shakes it up with 'incredibly talented' mixologist Whiteside

Little, Brown imprint Sphere has acquired Mixed in Minutes: 50 Quick & Easy Cocktails to Make at Home by mixologist Dan Whiteside. 

In his first book, Whiteside will "share secrets of the trade and show us how we can make bar-quality, delicious drinks without the need for cocktail-making equipment or any difficult techniques". The book will feature more than 50 recipes for classic and contemporary cocktails and each drink will also include recommendations for garnishes and seasonal twists and be partnered with a carbonated drink or tea, to spritz the drink and halve the alcohol content. 

The author has worked in the drinks industry across the globe for over 20 years, and has developed cocktail menus for restaurant companies including Bill's, where he launched the UK's first nationwide mindful drinking menu. He runs his own consulting business, partners with drinks brands and teaches cocktail-making.

Whiteside said: "I had the idea for Mixed in Minutes last year, when entertaining friends in your garden was about all we could do, and I wanted to show people how easily and quickly cocktails can be made. With a little bit of thought and preparation, cocktails for a small gathering are incredibly simple and basically on tap. In this book, I’ve taken the hacks and tricks I’ve learnt as a mixologist to show everyone how to make some of the UK’s favourite cocktails using methods that you can actually use at home – and how you can make them look amazing, too."

Nicky Crane, commissioning editor, acquired world rights directly from the author. Publication is scheduled for 7th October 2021. 

Crane commented: "With the closure of bars and restaurants during the various lockdowns, most people will have gone without the luxury of drinking bar-quality cocktails. The beauty of Dan’s book is in its simplicity, as he shows us how we can make tasty, fuss-free cocktails without compromising on flavour, for whenever you have friends over or just want to liven up your Friday night. Dan is an incredibly talented cocktail-maker who is also well connected in the industry, so we’ll be working closely with drinks brands on an exciting campaign. I’m so thrilled to be bringing Dan to the Sphere list, the home of leading recipe books such as Great British Bake Off, Lucy Watson’s Feed Me Vegan and Bad Manners, to finally dispel any myths that delicious cocktails are too hard, too expensive or too time-consuming to make."