I’m not much of a drinker, but I seem to have a taste for drinks from movies. The only thing I really like is a White Russian (as seen in The Big Lebowski), but tonight I tried a vodka martini (James Bond) and found that to be pretty good. What other drinks from the movies should I try?
Well, to carry the James Bond libations a tad further, you might want to try a glass of Dom Perignon champagne, drunk by Bond in both Dr. No and Goldfinger (expensive though, around $100 to $120 a bottle for current editions).
Bond also ordered a mint julep (though he asked for sour mash whiskey - i.e., Jack Daniel’s - rather than the more traditional bourbon) while visiting Goldfinger’s stud farm. In this same film Bond also drank brandy, port (wine) and what appears to have been a rum and coke while getting a message at the beginning of the film.
And just for the hell of it, you might want to try a Martini made with gin (Bombay Sapphire, Plymouth, Hendrick’s or Tanqueray preferably) instead of vodka. I’m sure there are tons of movies in which these made an appearance, though I’m at a loss to think of one now…save perhaps the Thin Man movies.
I got nothing, but this is a great thread idea.
I thought the classic James Bond drink was a Vesper, not a vodka martini. Or have they retconned it?
If you want to try a couple of Thin Man drinks, try a Manhattan:
1 part rye (not bourbon, thankyouverymuch)
1 part sweet vermouth (try Vya brand if you can get it)
1 dash orange bitters
maraschino cherry (homemade if possible)
or a Bronx:
(original recipe)
one-third orange juice
two-thirds gin
dash of sweet vermouth
dash of dry vermouth
(my recipe)
one-third orange juice
one-third gin (I use Plymouth)
one-sixth sweet vermouth
one-sixth dry vermouth
He drinks Vespers, but I was drinking at a company party at a local hotel. I could tell they weren’t going to be able to make exactly what Bond drinks, so I settled. I’ll get a Vesper when I have a chance.
In Die Another Day, Bond orders a Mojito. In his defense, he was in Cuba.
If you’re only an occasional drinker, you’d be better off avoiding a Pan Galactic Gergle Blaster 
“Pabst Blue Ribbon!” - Blue Velvet
Sonny also loves his mojitos in the recent Miami Vice movie.
I think pretty much every cocktail known to man appeared in the Thin Man movies.
I think pretty much every cocktail known to man appeared in the Thin Man movies.
I was just about to say the same thing! When we first meet Nick Charles in The Thin Man, he’s in a bar (natch!). His first line is to the bartender:
“The important thing is the rhythm! Always have rhythm in your shaking. Now a Manhattan you shake to fox-trot time, a Bronx to two-step time, a dry martini you always shake to waltz time.”
Now, I’d never even heard of a Bronx before. But here’s the recipe:
INGREDIENTS:
2 oz gin
1 oz dry vermouth
1 oz sweet vermouth
dash of Angostura bitters
maraschino cherry for garnish
PREPARATION:
Pour the ingredients into a shaker with ice cubes.
Shake well.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with the maraschino cherry.
Here’s your Manhattan:
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/4 oz Canadian whiskey
1/2 oz sweet vermouth
2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
maraschino cherry for garnish
PREPARATION:
Pour the ingedients into a mixing glass with ice cubes.
Stir well.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with the cherry.
The dry Martini has been debated to death on this board!
The above recipes come from About: Cocktails
I just watched North by Northwest this weekend, and had to look up what a Gibson is. Turns out it’s a martini made with cocktail onions instead of an olive.
Naturally, I am dying to make one. Tonight!
The infamous Alaskan Polar Bear Heater:
“2 shots of vodka…
a little rum…
some bitters…
a smidgeon of vinegar…
a shot of vermouth…
a shot of gin…
a little brandy…
lemon peel…
orange peel…
a cherry…some more scotch…Now, mix it nice. Pour it into a tall glass.”
Never tried one myself.
Ick. A proper Manhattan uses bourbon as a base. Maker’s Mark is a good choice.
Couldn’t agree more. But in the context of the time (1937 Manhattan), I’ll bet you it was made with Canadian whiskey, instead of bourbon.
Not a movie, but the tv show the persuaders had an argument between the 2 male leads [roger moore and tony curtis] about the best way to make a “treeclimber”
Unfortunately I have never found it in a bar book, and I don’t want to rent every episode and watch it to find it=(
But I do love mojitos and gin martinis=)
Mister Roberts also featured William Powell mixing up a drink, though the raw ingredients were even stranger than Canadian whiskey.
Red Label Scotch (as formulated by Doug Roberts, Frank Pulver, and Doc):
half bottle grain alcohol
splash of Coke for color
1 drop iodine for taste
1 drop hair tonic for age
shake without ice, serve neat
They say Romulan ale is good, except at diplomatic functions.
I only use it for medicinal purposes.