When it comes to rock music and alcoholic beverages, you might picture Keith Richards from The Rolling Stones weaving around onstage clutching a bottle of Jack Daniels in one hand and strumming his Strat with the other. That was his idea of a Rocktail.
Or maybe you envision Amy Winehouse singing about not wanting to go to rehab. But times have changed and a new book, RockTails: 102 Drinks That Rock, reflects that with several tasty, sophisticated recipes from rock’s finest stars, as well as the author, Staci Layne Wilson (Rock & Roll Nightmares book series and podcast).
RockTails features cocktails and mocktails inspired by the greatest rock songs and musicians of all time, including former or current members of KISS, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Steely Dan, Quiet Riot, Vixen, Strawberry Alarm Clock, and more.
The author is giving us an exclusive sneak peek at five reasons to raise your glass—cheers!—not the least of which is the fact that a portion of the profits from sales goes to The Sweet Relief Musicians Fund.
5 Rocktails — Drinks That Rock
The Clean Getaway

Cheers to: Ricky Byrd (Guitarist; Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Roger Daltrey band, The Beach Boys). Inspiration: Ricky’s 2017 solo album, Clean Getaway, and a classic Bay Breeze cocktail. Simple and sweet as its name, The Clean Getaway consists of just three components.
Ingredients:
5 oz club soda
2 oz cranberry juice
2 oz pineapple juice
Directions:
Use any kind of glass you like; ice is optional. Fill the glass about half-full of club soda, then add 1/4 cranberry, and 1/4 pineapple juices (fresh is always best). Stir and enjoy.
Big Yellow Taxi

Inspiration: The 1970 Joni Mitchell song Big Yellow Taxi, The Cars band, and a classic Tijuana Taxi cocktail.
Ingredients:
2 oz agave tequila
1 oz orange liqueur
3 oz spiced apple cider
1 oz fresh lemon juice
1 drizzle honey
Garnish
Starred apple slice
Cinnamon stick
Directions:
This tasty Taxi can be enjoyed hot or cold:
Hot—Bring the apple cider to a simmer on the stove, then pour over other ingredients in a heat proof glass mug garnish. Cold—Combine the apple cider, tequila, orange liqueur, lemon juice, and honey in a cocktail shaker. “Shake it up!” Strain over ice and garnish.
Wasting Away on Margarita Bills

Cheers to: Tommy Thayer (Guitarist, lead vocalist, and KISS “Spaceman”). Inspiration: The “Tommyrita” from Tommy’s popular Instagram video, with a nod to the laidback KISS-opposite, Jimmy Buffet (and his 1977 hit, Margaritaville).
Ingredients:
1 to 2 oz silver tequila
.5 to 1 oz orange liqueur
1 whole lime
1 splash club soda
Garnish:
Lime wedge
Directions:
Fill a rocks glass to the top with ice, then add 1 to 2 oz of silver tequila. Squeeze in a whole lime. Add in orange liqueur (half of the amount of tequila), and stir. Add your club soda and stir again. Garnish, and “Rock & Roll All Nite.”
Nutty Déjà Vu

Cheers to: Michele Farinola (Producer of the rock docs, David Crosby: Remember My Name, and Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice). Inspiration: The classic 1970 Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young LP of the same name, and Puerto Rico’s National Drink: The Piña Colada—but with a nutty twist.
Ingredients:
4 oz coconut rum
4 oz dark rum
8 oz pineapple chunks with juice
8 oz (½ of 15 oz can) coconut cream (Coco Lopez)
5 or 6 macadamia nuts
Garnish:
Pineapple slice
Coconut flakes (optional)
Directions:
Blend. Pour into any glass you desire, and garnish with a pineapple slice. (You can make it snowy by adding coconut flakes)
Devil In My Sidecar

Inspiration: The B-52’s 1978 song, Devil in my Car, and a classic Roaring ’20s Sidecar cocktail.
Ingredients:
1 ½ oz cognac
¾ oz orange liqueur
¾ oz lemon juice, freshly squeezed
Sugar for rim (optional)
Garnish:
Orange twist
Directions:
Coat the rim of a coupe glass with sugar. Pour the cognac, orange liqueur, and lemon juice into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with an orange twist. Sip, and admire your beehive hairdo. (If you don’t already have one, a few of these will have your hair standing on end!)
Famous rock musicians share their favorite drinks, or “Rocktails” for fun and a good cause in Staci Layne Wilson’s raucous new book.
Find Rocktails: 102 Drinks That Rock on Amazon for $18.99.