Once Upon a Cocktail is proud to announce the launch of our highly anticipated recipe book, Once Upon a Cocktail – West Hollywood. Filled with an exciting collection of captivating cocktail recipes, from 54 treasured venues, this book captures the vibrant essence of the iconic West Hollywood bar scene.
Whether you’re a seasoned mixologist or someone who simply enjoys a liquid libation or two, Once Upon a Cocktail – West Hollywood has something for everyone.
With a wide range of recipes, from the supper clubs of Sunset Strip to the lively bars of the Rainbow District, the book pays homage to the famous locations that have become synonymous with the city. The book is a magnificent treasure trove that intertwines the rich tapestry of history, culture, and cocktails into a mesmerizing keepsake. With each turn of the page, readers are invited to embark on an enchanting, illustrated journey through the vibrant city as seen through the eyes of its creators, community, and the bond of friendship.
This book is an initiative of Welcome to the Brightside artist and Imagineer Katie Brightside and Historically Drinking’s Sarah L.M. Mengoni. In the vast landscape of the barkeep world and the creative arts industry, these two individuals with a combined experience of over 53 years stand together as co-authors.
But the road to this accomplishment was far from easy. These two visionaries faced numerous challenges along the way. They creatively maneuvered financials, broke down walls, and courageously shrugged off the word “no.” They understood that in order to achieve the extraordinary, one must be willing to make the impossible possible. Neither one turned down a challenge and with a united front they built something remarkable, a book and friendship.
“A great collaboration is where you can respect each individual’s skill set. We will always ask questions of each other and challenge them, but we have clear boundaries to never step on the toes of something we are not experts on. I have no interest in being a drink maestro, understanding the complexities of building a balanced libation, and Sarah will not be surrendering her bartools anytime soon to pick up a pencil to draw—though I actually like this as an experiment for our tv show. There will definitely be Wasabi and Ice Cream in every cocktail! Sarah, how’s the pencil sharpening going?” states Brightside, when asked about finding the perfect collaborator.
With the book’s soft launch Fall 2023, there was no actual “big day”, or a date set in stone, instead an awakening of several events, a tour you could call it. With that in mind, eleven activations during West Hollywood’s Eat & Drink Week kickstarted the event collection and we hear there are more experiences in the pipeline!
Brightside stated “One of my favorite events was the cocktail class with The Center for Culinary Culture. I got to sit back and watch Sarah wrangle forty people into building cocktails. Another, was the first ever Wake, Bake and Shake at West Hollywood’s, The Woods, and Holy Water. We simultaneously had liquor cocktails in the bar and next door in the cannabis lounge the same drinks THC infused. Never the twain shall meet, it was an out-of-the-box activation that played within the law whilst still retaining the attaché of fringe!”
Cheers to Fall 2023 with the continuing launch of Once Upon a Cocktail – West Hollywood and the endless possibilities it offers to all cocktail enthusiasts!
Click the link to watch a recent interview in collaboration with the West Hollywood Tourism Board. Exploring West Hollywood’s Cocktail Culture with Sarah Mengoni and Katie Brightside
If you still don’t have a copy, please send us an email, purchase from this link or visit one of our many stockists: 1 Hotel, Andaz West Hollywood, ARTBOOKS @ Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles, Artlounge Collective, Book Soup, Circus of Books, Chamberlain West Hollywood, Fred Segal, Hotel Ziggy, Hugo’s Restaurant, Le Parc at Melrose, Montrose at Beverly Hills, Petrossian Restaurant & Boutique, SUR Restaurant & Lounge and West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
