Colleen Graham, Freelance Writer
Specializing in Food & Drink
Colleen Graham's work as a freelance writer, editor, and photographer focuses on food and drinks.
In 2006, Colleen joined The Spruce Eats (formerly About.com) team, where she wrote about cocktails, other drinks, and food. Her first book, ¡Hola Tequila!, was republished in 2017 under the title Tequila: Cocktails With a Kick. Written for Harper Collins UK, her book Rosé Made Me Do It was released in 2019, and 2022 saw the release of Vodka Made Me Do It. Over the years, she has contributed to numerous publications and worked as an editor, recipe developer, and consultant for various liquor, beverage, and editorial clients.
Mixing Drinks
My personal drink journey began in the bar. I’ve spent many years studying and developing drinks in the way that a bartender does and this follows through to every drink I make and recommend. This may be a different approach than you're used to, but it works really well.
Here’s my philosophy… Bartenders have been creating terrific drinks for well over a century and they have everything figured out. Even when mixing nonalcoholic drinks, there is no reason why we cannot take knowledge from the bar and bring it into our kitchens. We all deserve a great drink and it just so happens that the crafty individuals behind the bar have already perfected everything that we need to know.
For that reason, you will notice that my recipes are written with techniques used by bartenders every day—shaking, stirring, straining, muddling, and all the other fun stuff—and that I recommend the use of bar tools.
Things we can learn from the bar...
- Ice can take any cold drink to a new level, not only in the chilling factor but also in the consistency. If you have a drink filled with fruit juice, a little shaking with ice will add an effervescence that you cannot achieve by just pouring it over ice into the glass.
- Whether mixing drinks with or without booze, the basic concepts don't change.
- Shaking and muddling are fun (and a great release of any frustration).
- “You get what you pay for.” This applies to food and drink, and there is a big difference between fresh and top-shelf in every aspect of either.
- Many of the DIY mixers (simple syrup, grenadine, etc.) used in the bar are not only easy to make but can also enhance a variety of drinks.
- There are certain aspects of the bar that add style to any drink and occasion. Think of the cocktail glass as an example: It makes everyone who holds it feel a little more special, and it does not have to be reserved for the myriad of martinis it often carries.
Recommended Drink Tools
You will find the following tools useful in creating the best drinks and a number of them are useful in the kitchen for a variety of other purposes.
- Cocktail Shaker: Creates vivacious drinks
- Muddler: To mash fresh produce and crush ice
- Jigger: Measure liquid increments perfectly
- Strainer: Keep the chunks out of your drinks
- Bar Spoon: The long handle is perfect for stirring
- Blender: Because everyone loves a smoothie!
- Juicer: Fresh is always best
- Bottle Opener: Have a backup... they disappear
- Bar Towels: The most absorbent towels you'll find
Books by Colleen Graham
Free Spirited
Vodka Made Me Do It
Vodka Made Me Do It
Released in 2024
From Harper Collins UK:
The no-low alcohol lifestyle is booming, as more and more consumers are seeking fabulous mixed drinks that skip the alcohol.
Gone are the days of sugary Shirley Temples and soda-topped fruit juice. It is time for a mocktail revolution that combines non-alcoholic ingredients to create sensational alcohol-free drinks that rival any boozy well-crafted Martini or Old-Fashioned.
Whether sober-curious or conscious of the health benefits of abstaining from alcohol, Free Spirited will guide readers through this flavor-fuelled journey in low-/no-alcohol adult beverages. With a primer in bartending techniques to create better drinks, it’s perfect for beginners and seasoned mixologists alike. You’ll learn how to recreate timeless drinks like the Margarita and Old Fashioned into non-alcoholic wonders and discover original recipes that offer inspiration for personal cocktail experimentation.
With 60 recipes, there is something for everyone, from a Cos-No-Politan and Sober Sidecar to a Hibiscus Tea-Tini and Blueberry-Mint Smash, with charming original illustrations, easy-to-follow recipes, and delicious no/lo drinks for the sober curious.
Vodka Made Me Do It
Vodka Made Me Do It
Vodka Made Me Do It
Released in 2022; Illustrations by Ruby Taylor
From Harper Collins UK:
Vodka is the perfect spirit that can turn almost any combination of mixer, juice and garnish into a bold and boozy beverage. Clear in colour and crisp to taste, some of the most famous cocktails are vodka-based.
From the punchy Moscow Mule and the pink-hued Cosmopolitan, to the sweet-smooth Espresso Martini and the Bloody Mary pick-me-up, this beautifully illustrated book shows off the best of vodka cocktails that are fun and easy to make.
In Vodka Made Me Do It seasoned mixologist, writer and cocktail consultant Colleen Graham explains everything you need to know about this versatile spirit: how to make tasty vodka infusions, which mixers blend well and how to create flavourful cocktails for every occasion.
Including twists on classic cocktails – from bellinis and punches, to a whole host of delicious martinis – you’ll soon be saying; ‘Sip sip hooray for vodka!’
Rosé Made Me Do It
Tequila: Cocktails With a Kick
Tequila: Cocktails With a Kick
Released in 2019; Illustrations by Ruby Taylor
From Harper Collins UK:
See the world through rosé-coloured glasses with this, the latest cocktail recipe book in the phenomenally successful MADE ME DO IT series.
In Rosé Made Me Do It, writer, mixologist and cocktail consultant Colleen Graham explains everything you need to know: how to choose the right type of wine, which spirits and mixers blend well and how to create crisp cocktails for every occasion.
Featuring 60 wine cocktails and punches from around the world – including everything from sangrias to spritzes and bellinis to martinis, and the icey genius of Frosé (frozen rosé) – this book invites you to drink pink.
Rosé all day – yes way!
Tequila: Cocktails With a Kick
Tequila: Cocktails With a Kick
Tequila: Cocktails With a Kick
Released in 2017; Photography by Shannon Graham
From Sellers Publishing:
Tequila celebrates the too-often underrated Mexican distilled spirit. With a taste profile unlike any other distilled spirit, tequila can be paired with a multitude of flavors, or even imbibed as a sipping drink.
• 90 recipes for finely crafted creative tequila-based cocktails and mixed drinks
• A celebration of the history, production, and culture of tequila
• Information about tequila’s unique taste profile and the multitude of flavors it can be paired with
• Expert advice on enjoying tequila flights and reading a tequila label
Contact Colleen Graham
I am always open to conversation and would like to hear from you. Whether you would like to share a recipe, tip, or idea, or talk about working on a project, just send an email to me at drinkstudio@scgrahamphoto.com.
S&C Design Studios
Beyond writing, Colleen owns a photography studio with her husband, Shannon Graham. S&C Design Studios is a full service commercial and fine art photography studio that works with clients worldwide, including many in the beverage industry. Their library of drink imagery is extensive. The team's fine art photography is showcased at Darkroom Artist and they travel the Midwest attending art shows each year. In art, their principal focus is to preserve the tradition of photography, so they spend a lot of time shooting film and printing in the studio’s darkroom.