The Brandy Milk Punch - (Iconic New Orleans Cocktails) by Sharon Keating & Christi Keating Sumich (Hardcover)

About the Book

""Brandy Milk Punch" explores the cocktail's origins and its relationship to the city of New Orleans. Authors Sharon Keating and Christi Keating Sumich detail the original version of this centuries-old cocktail by delving into the English, or clarifed, version. Readers will learn how milk punch became all the rage in England and how that original clarified drink differs from the beloved version New Orleans knows today. The brandy milk punch arose from a history of entertainment and revelry that made it a natural fit for the city of New Orleans. Traditional brandy milk punch has only a few key ingredients. Keating and Sumich take a deep dive into them, emphasizing the common thread of medicinal uses for all the ingredients-particularly brandy! "Brandy Milk Punch" next explores the cocktail's well-earned place in New Orleans brunch, which was central to the meteoric national rise of brunch culture over the past decade. The final chapter includes recipes and pictures of the drink in various forms and establishments known for their brandy milk punches"--

Book Synopsis

A descendant of one of the oldest cocktails, the brandy milk punch has become a calling card for New Orleans brunch culture. In The Brandy Milk Punch, Sharon Keating and Christi Keating Sumich explore the cocktail's origins and its relationship to the Crescent City's food scene. With a versatile recipe that offers space for creative reimagining, the brandy milk punch got its start with the centuries-old English milk punch before evolving into its current incarnation in a city renowned for its commitment to revelry. This book takes a deep dive into the cocktail's key ingredients, most of which served medicinal purposes before coming together in the brandy milk punch.

New Orleans stands at the epicenter of the brunch culture that has blossomed across the country in the last few decades. The Brandy Milk Punch situates the cocktail firmly within the local brunch scene and shares recipes for both the traditional brandy milk punch and the many variants invented by creative bartenders across the city.

Traditional brandy milk punch has only a few key ingredients. Keating and Sumich take a deep dive into them, emphasizing the common thread of medicinal uses for all the ingredients--particularly brandy! "Brandy Milk Punch" next explores the cocktail's well-earned place in New Orleans brunch, which was central to the meteoric national rise of brunch culture over the past decade. The final chapter included recipes and pictures of the drink in various forms and establishments known for their brandy milk punches.

Review Quotes

"If variety is the spice of life, then The Brandy Milk Punch proves that this cocktail is the 'spice' of a New Orleans brunch--or any time. Mother-daughter duo Sharon Keating and Christi Keating Sumich dive deep into the history of this beloved cocktail, creating a lively narrative that draws you in so much that you will finish reading it with a brandy milk punch in hand."--Sue Strachan, author of The Café Brûlot

"In the city where brunch was invented, the breakfast cocktail was sure to follow. The brandy milk punch is New Orleans's favorite eye-opener and the perfect way to guarantee a fun day in the Crescent City. At last, here's the story of how it all came to be!"--Poppy Tooker, author of Drag Queen Brunch and host of Louisiana Eats! podcast

About the Author

Sharon Keating is a lawyer by profession with a passion for the history and culture of New Orleans. Mother of two and grandmother of five, she lives in uptown New Orleans with her husband, a rescued yellow lab, and a resident ghost named Cornelia.

Christi Keating Sumich holds a doctoral degree in history and a master's degree in English literature. She resides just outside of New Orleans with her husband and has three grown children, a daughter-in-law, and too many pets.