Rum Drinks, 50 Carribean Cocktails, from Cuba Libre to Rum Daisy ~ Jessica B. Harris

It's a warm day. I've been working hard in the garden and now it's time to chill. Whether you've earned it with a bit of hard physical labour or you just feel like relaxing, it's hard to go past a cool glass of something to set you on the right track to relaxing. If that's where you're at right now, you need look no further than this handy little cookbook. Rum drinks has got your cool classics and tropical tipples covered, along with a few other very handy bits and pieces.

The book commences with a background to rum and it's influence on history, then follows on with a chapter on all you'll need to know to mix your drinks, including no less than eight various sugar syrup recipes, including how to make your own grenadine. There are garnishes galore, and if you were ever curious about your liquid measurement conversions you'll find what you need here. I would expect most readers will skip past these chapters and head straight to the recipe sections, though with the glossy historical photographs you may find yourself caught up reading before you get anywhere near making yourself that drink.

It's the rum drinks though that you're looking for, and the book has two chapters of these to delight and tempt you. Where to start though? The first of the two chapters contains your classics, so you might like to start with the Canchanchara - nice and zingy with lime juice and honey, or perhaps the timeless Pina Colada. The Punch à la Noix de Coco with its freshly grated coconut, vanilla bean, lemon zest and nutmeg is also a promising option, or of course you can channel your inner Hemingway with a cool Mojito.

Moving onto the chapter on tropical tipples a little more variety sneaks in, and you might go with a Yellowbird featuring orange and lime juice and Tia Maria, a Rum Bloody Mary, or even indulge in a Boa Noite with the tartness of passionfruit juice. Throwing caution to the wind the chapter even has a recipe for the good old Shandy, and in my books that makes it a winner - definitely my cooling drink of choice after working in the yard.

And once you've started to relax you're probably going to be thinking about something to nibble on - well no need to fear, the book has you covered there too, with a nice little chapter on Caribbean snacks. The Plantain Chips or the Coconut Crisps will go nicely with your Rum and Ginger, or if you were interested in something a little more substantial you might go with the Sugarcane Shrimp or the Dominican Fried Chicken to accompany your High-Octane Limeade. And if you're not sure what nibbles to have with which drink, the final party planner chapter has that all done for you.

This is a nicely put together book, recommended for anyone experiencing warm weather who might be thirsty. Not one for recovering alcoholics or children though.

- Kath