Camp Cocktails includes so many fabulous recipes that the reader might forget that these are cocktails for camping. This is not a bad thing. Many people think of camping as not being able to have nice things, but this book shows that it is possible with minimal effort. There is even a foraging section that details what to use and recipes for each ingredient. The photos are beautiful and give the book a cozy feel that makes me want to go camping and enjoy a BMB or some Spikeables. There are recipes for everyone and all kinds of camp-friendly details.

I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did, since at the start it seemed far more fancy than our family's camping adventures are. The farther I got into it, the more I loved it though. It's just fun, the recipes sound fantastic, there are color photos throughout, there are fun things like how to make a marshmallow shot glass (!!!) by toasting it and then putting the hollowed little marshmallow down to cool and filling with liquor (drink it before the marshmallow dissolves and then pop it into your mouth), and then there are even foraging recipes at the end. Anyone who knows me knows what a foraging nut I am, so that sealed it for me.

I love that Vikre grouped the recipes by types -- car camping, backpacking, cabin camping, and so on, so more complicated recipes are reserved for times that are better suited for them. There are lots of times she's quite clever, like one recipe is made ahead in a big ziplock bag and frozen inside another ziplock bag. The high alcohol in it means it won't freeze all the way and will be a sort of slushie, and she says to pack it in the coldest part of the ice chest and have that one the first night so it's still slushie.

She also gives tips on what to use for things like muddling and ice cubes while camping. Of course the photos are going to show fancier preparations and glasses, because nobody wants a book where every picture is in a cheap cup, but I disagree with the reviewer who held this against her. You don't need to serve it in a fancy glass to appreciate the flavors. Hello -- there's a spiked Nutella hot chocolate recipe in here. You could put that in your boot and it would probably still taste delicious.

A lot of these cocktails are way fancier than I am, but I was inspired to try some of them. I'm honestly considering purchasing it because so many of the recipes did appeal to me (especially the foraging ones, even though most are not new to me). I'm also considering purchasing a copy for an old friend who has a cabin up north and is far fancier than I am.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

I liked the thought and concept behind this book and it had a few interesting cocktails in it, such as marshmallow mule and fire punch, but it was a bit impractical at times as I honestly doubt campers prioritize having a bunch of various cocktail glasses with them on a camping trip (just sayin').

I love camping and I love cocktails, so how could I possibly not be pleased with this book? Well, it might have something to do with the fact that I would have to leave everything else at home to make these cocktails! Reality check: You cannot bring a full bar with you on a camping trip. Yet many of these cocktails call for multiple spirits as well as nonalcoholic ingredients that one does not normally pack as part of camping, For example, if you are going to make a "Scaffa, "you will need to pack all of the following spirits: rye whiskey, curacao liqueur, sweet vermouth, amaro nardini liqueur! So if you plan to make any other drink, you better figure out what you plan to leave at home (perhaps the tent?) so that you have enough room for the angostura bitters, peaches, strawberries, simple syrup, pineapple juice that other cocktails call for, not to mention the various types of glassware the pictures depict the drinks in (despite the author's claim that any old glass will do)!

The organization of the book also does not make sense. Even if you are "glamping," there is a limit to what you can carry, so the logical organization would be according to the base spirit of the cocktail -- e.g. cocktails using tequila as the base, cocktails using vodka as the base, etc. This organization would allow the savvy camper to quickly identify several cocktails that utilize the same base spirit. The result would be the ability to enjoy a variety of drinks, while still being able to minimize what you carry.

As for the general instructions about packing spirits and assembling camping-friendly barware, well most of the information is common sense, and the remainder contradicts the pictures in the book. After all, what camper in their right might brings mason jars and cocktail glasses of various sizes with them to camp (as shown in the pictures).

So as much as I would love to recommend this book, I simply cannot as neither the drink recipes nor the general instructions are practical.

I would like to thank Harvard Common Press and NetGalley for allowing me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.