Let’s Make Cocktails! by Sarah Becan

subtitled A Comic Book Cocktail Book.

This is, bar none, one of the best illustrated reference guides to learning about and making cocktails for beginners that I’ve ever seen. Sarah Becan’s approach to mixology is as refreshing as some of the drinks she features in this volume, and I say that both as someone who bartended for years and who taught people how to mix drinks for their own delectation (and who loves the occasional tipple myself, naturally.) The way she’s written this book not only demystifies the process but also provides brief histories of each of the drinks, an added boon for trivia nerds like myself.

Let’s Make Cocktails begins by first explaining what a cocktail is and how that odd name came to be (or, at least, the best guesses for it.) As with most home bartending guides, it then discusses the setup of a basic home bar. In addition to a low-pressure introduction to the many different kinds of spirits and mixers, Ms Becan talks about the different kinds of glassware, tools, ice and garnishes most often used by modern bartenders, and how you don’t have to be in possession of them all in order to have a setup that works for you. She does, however, recommend that you know how to make your own simple syrups, and provides instructions for various kinds that serve almost as a way to ease into the rest of the book’s recipes.

And recipes there are aplenty, focusing mainly on what I feel are the most popular drinks of 2026. A lot of these are, ofc, classics, but you’ll also get newer inventions like the Paper Plane and the Macunaima. The diversity is well done, and Ms Becan goes through recipes spirit by spirit, ensuring that everything stays nicely organized for readers reaching to consult this volume while planning or making their next drink. There’s even a section for non-alcoholic beverages that are composed in as balanced and layered a fashion as any other full-proof cocktail.

Far and away the best thing about this book tho is Ms Becan’s art, which is clear, clever and approachable, especially with the charming author self-inserts. The historical and figure depictions are outstanding, and if the recipe panels sometimes feel repetitive, that’s okay: those parts are meant to be educational and, thus, reassuring in their consistency.

This is a great book for anyone looking to get into cocktails and start making them at home, tho I suspect that Gen Z will extract the greatest value from it. I really need to get more of Ms Becan’s other illustrated books, too, as I am 100% the target audience — despite definitely not being Gen Z — for graphic cookbooks titled Let’s Make Ramen! and Let’s Make Dumplings!, lol. Frankly, I’m glad she’s creating books like these to help make what can seem like intimidating topics feel much more accessible to all.

Let’s Make Cocktails! by Sarah Becan was published April 7 2026 by Ten Speed Graphic and is available from all good booksellers, including