Thirsty for Revival: Jennifer Brian Talks Spirits, Hospitality and Her New Book

By McKenna Graham Photos By Matt Johnson

Cocktail maven Jennifer Brian is a force to be reckoned with— and much like Make and Muddle, the beverage focused brand she co-founded, she is sophisticated yet welcoming. Surrounded by her cookbook collection, herbs from her garden and a veritable apothecary of potions, syrups and spirits lining the dining room shelves in her Crescent Hill home, Brian recounts her circuitous route to becoming an author. Her first book, Classic Cocktail Revival is due to hit the shelves at the beginning of September and is currently available for pre-order. The book, which has been almost ten years in the making, offers the ritual of cocktail crafting and drinking with good friends as an almost religious experience— and with Brian at the pulpit, drinkers are in good hands. 

“I’ve been in hospitality a long time,” says Brian, “I grew up in the kitchens of my grandmothers, my mom, my aunts… My people are amazing cooks—both sides of my family. And my earliest memories and best memories are in the kitchen.” In fact, it was in the kitchen of a friend that the moment of genesis for Make and Muddle occurred. As Brian tells it, it was National Whiskey Sour day, and being a person who dislikes whiskey sours she began to wonder how she might tweak this classic to create something a little different. She ended up crafting a cherry vanilla syrup and when her friend asked her to write down the recipe, an idea was born. Brian decided she would write a cookbook. But like most good tales, this one has a few more twists and turns. What began as the idea for a cookbook ultimately shifted into a product line of high end syrups and shrubs and her business Make and Muddle was born. 

In the years to follow, Brian served as a professional whiskey steward, collaborated with the Kentucky Herbal Society and was the cocktail sponsor of the 2022 Kentucky Derby Festival, all while the seeds of her future book began germinating in her mind. However, it wasn’t until a rough patch in time that she returned to her work on the book. Buoyed by a flood of creativity, she scrapped the original version, originally titled Kentucky Gatherings in the Bluegrass, and rewrote it all, finishing it in only two weeks. She shifted from writing in what she described as a very “Martha Stewart” style to one that was a bit edgier. leaning into the idea of the “cocktail evangelist” that she and co-founder Brent Carter had originally conceived for Make and Muddle. 

Inspired by Egyptian symbols, numerology and old religious iconography, Classic Cocktail Revival builds on their mission of “spreading the good news about booze” by offering clear and straightforward guidance for novice bartenders while offering new twists on old favorites for the well seasoned mixologist. Each recipe is accompanied by a story or little bit of history to deepen your understanding of the spirits in your cup. Classic Cocktail Revival also includes a section on creating thoughtful and well balanced mocktails, an apt addition to any bartending book published today as trends move towards spirit-free offerings. 

“One of the founding principles of the business is about connection,” says Brian speaking on her decision to include alcohol free libations, “I firmly believe there’s a seat at the table for everybody.” And while Brian says this may be her first book, she does not intend to make it her last, even teasing a possible book of THC cocktails, that she calls “the wave of the future”. It’s clear, for Brian, when it comes to imbibing it’s about more than just building a drink, it’s about building relationships. 

As we enter the dog days of summer, Brian suggests a spritz which she calls “the iconic summertime cocktail” to slice through the heat and refresh a thirsty palate.

“We call them porch pounders,” she says, “They’re so elegant and gorgeous when they come to the table with all the fresh herbs and big wheels of fruit. I love that for summer cocktails.” You can order Make and Muddle’s products on Etsy to enhance your own home bar and elevate any cocktail. More information about Classic Cocktail Revival and for pre-order visit www.makeandmuddle.com