About the Book
Birds, Booze, and Brilliant Puns in One Book
A witty, illustrated cocktail guide for bird lovers, Make Myna Double pairs scientifically sound ornithology with pun-filled, bird-inspired drink recipes that are as delightful as they are delicious.
Birds and booze, together at last. Whether you're a budding birder or just love a well-crafted cocktail, Make Myna Double offers a playful and practical crash course in bartending and birdwatching. With every recipe tied to a real species-from hummingbirds and toucans to kiwis and ptarmigans-you'll learn the science behind feathers and flavors while shaking up creative drinks.
Crafted by a PhD ornithologist turned full-time cocktail creator. Katie Stryjewski, known for her Instagram @garnish_girl, combines her love of birds with years of mixology experience to create this one-of-a-kind guide. Each page brings together bird facts, clever puns, and mixology tips, with recipes grouped by spirit and presented alongside scientific sidebars, drink layering techniques, and fun field guide illustrations.
Inside, you'll find:
65 original cocktail and mocktail recipes, inspired by real birds and classic drinks
Ornithological sidebars and bird facts, from courtship displays to brood parasitism
Mixology guidance on tools, glassware, ingredients, and layering techniques
Humor and education in equal parts, perfect for bird nerds and home bartenders alike
If you liked Tequila Mockingbird, Modern Cocktale Classics, or Mocktales, you'll love Make Myna Double.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Author’s Note
Note on Taxonomy, Names, and References
Abbreviations
Field Guide to Tools and Ingredients
Techniques
Native Species
Cardinal
Jungle Bird
Paloma
Stork Club
Yellow Bird
Gin
Bee-Eater’s Knees
Bitter-n
Booby Trap
Gin & Tit
Honeyguide
Maharaja’s Kookaburra-Peg
Purple Martini
Ptarmigimlet
Rum
Bananaquit
Blue Hawaiian Honeycreeper
Daiquiwi
Doctor Bird
Doradito Mojito
Hot Tody
Macawsmapolitan
Piña Koel-ada
Sazeracket-tail
Toucan Play at that Game
Vangastura Sour
Tequila
Boom Chachalaca
Fulmargarita
Porn Starling Martini
Tequila Sunbird
Vodka
Appletini’iwi
Bobwhite Russian
Brambling
Hoopoe Coupe-o
Moscow Murre
Vesper Sparrow
Whiskey
Apple Eider
Blood and Sandpiper
Philadelphia Fish Crow Punch
Queen’s Lark Swizzle
Rob Royal Flycatcher
Rusty Rail
Sage Grouse
Scarlet Rye-bis
Other
Bamboo Partridge (Sherry)
Bulbullini (Sparkling Wine)
Hoatzinfandel (Pisco)
Jaeger Bomb (Jaegermeister)
Kite-parinha (Cachaça)
LBB (Licor 43, Brandy, and Benedictine)
Negrito Negroni (Pisco)
Pitohui Punch – (Arrack)
Rosélla (Rosé wine)
Sidecardinal (Cognac)
Suffering Bustard (split Rye/Gin)
Mocktails
Bella Loona
Mockingbird Mocktail
Whydah Hell Not?
About the Author :
Katie Stryjewski is a PhD-trained ornithologist, cocktail creator, and the voice behind the popular Instagram account @garnish_girl, where she shares inventive recipes and stunning drink photography with over 26,000 followers. After earning her doctorate in ornithology and completing postdoctoral research on bird vision at Harvard University, Katie traded fieldwork for mixology, blending her scientific expertise with her creative passion for cocktails. Her work has been published in Nature Ecology and Evolution, PNAS, and Natural History, and she has been featured in Forbes, Liquor.com, The Wall Street Journal, and more. She is also the author of Cocktails, Mocktails, and Garnishes from the Garden. In Make Myna Double, Katie combines her love of birds and bartending, offering readers a uniquely witty and educational experience that celebrates both ornithology and craft cocktails. She is based in Boston, MA.
Review :
“Katie brings a fresh, thoughtful energy to cocktails. This book feels just like her: creative, approachable, and full of great ideas.”
—Natalie Migliarini, author of Beautiful Booze: Stylish Cocktails to Make at Home
“Stryjewski has created a truly delightful combination of ornithology and cocktails. Her storytelling brings bird-related natural history to life with each familiar yet creative recipe. As an ornithologist, I’m impressed with the level of detail she has managed to convey in such an accessible way. Everyone from experienced birdwatchers to cocktail enthusiasts is sure to find something to learn and enjoy.”
—Allison Shultz, associate curator of ornithology at Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
“What a fun read! I love the birds-as-cocktails conceit, the connections the author finds between them, and the ever-present wordplay—which goes well beyond the book’s title to drinks like the Sidecardinal and the Compulsive Lyrebird. The cocktail recipes are original, interesting, and well within reach for readers to mix at home. You will learn a lot of great bird facts, but Make Myna Double is such a breezy book you may not even realize how much it’s teaching you. A clever, cheeky contribution to ornithologist-mixologist relations—and undoubtedly a great gift for bird lovers and cocktail lovers alike!”
—Brian D. Hoefling, author of Dryads: Spirits of the Trees and The Cocktail Seminars
“Katie’s new cocktail book is as delightful as it is clever. Effortlessly weaving the study of birds, geography, and history, Katie devises the perfect cocktail with a twist. Easy-to-prepare recipes, with spirits and mixer alternatives, add another layer to this humorous, unique, playful, and beautifully illustrated scientific cocktail adventure.”
—Diane Lapis, author of Cocktails Across America
