Category Archives: Liquers

Champagne, Lemon, Liquers, Triple Sec, Vodka

The Dorothy Parker Cocktail

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What can be written about Ms. Parker, a brilliantly gifted, caustically witty, non-conformist satirist, that hasn’t been said better by others, and most readers will presumably know her anyway, so let us narrow it down to the subject matter of this blog: film and drink.

Ms. Parker’s move to Hollywood in the mid-1930s triggered her second career as a screenwriter, with films such as ”A Star is Born” (1937) and an original screenplay for Hitchcock’s”Saboteur” (1942), and lasted until being blacklisted by the HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee), her 1.000+ page FBI file must make good reading.

Although Esquire and The New Yorker have listed  Whiskey Sour, Martinis or Manhattans as Ms. Parker’s favourite drinks, there is also a cocktail named after her worth mentioning: The Dorothy Parker.

  • 1½ Citrus Vodka
  • ½ Triple Sec
  • ¼ Chambord Liqueur
  • ½ freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • champagne (or sparkling wine) to top off

Shake all ingredients except champagne, strain into a sugar-rimmed cocktail glass and top off with champagne.

Some Dorothy Parker quotes to set the mood:

“This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.” 
(in reference to Benito Mussolini’s ”The Cardinal’s Mistress”.)

“Tell him I was too f**king busy– or vice versa.”

“I wish I could drink like a lady
I can take one or two at the most
Three and I’m under the table
Four and I’m under the host”_
(Dorothy Parker)

Trivia I: If you have ever caught an episode of ”Gilmore Girls” (2000-2007) then you might have noticed the Dorothy Parker tribute by the show’s creator Ms. Amy Sherman-Palladino by way of the production company’s name: “Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions”.

Besides Sylvia Plath’s “The Unabridged Journals”, Rory‘s reading list included “Complete Stories” and “The Portable Dorothy Parker”

Trivia II: The New York Distilling Company named one of their two flagship gins after her: The Dorothy Parker Gin [1] which has spawned a number of cocktails in her honour, see http://vinepair.com/wine-blog/9-inventive-gin-cocktails-inspired-by-the-legendary-dorothy-parker/ .

[1] New York Distilling Company –  http://www.nydistilling.com/spirits/

Cognac, Liquers

The French Connection

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Another drink which shares it’s name but not it’s origin, with a well-known film. The Name “French Connection” is possibly due to the fact that the cognac originates in France, the amaretto in Italy … but do we care all that much?

  • 2 oz cognac
  • 1 oz amaretto almond liqueur
  • 1 lime or lemon zest (scrape of the outer peel for flavouring)

Stir both with ice in mixing glass, strain into ice filled serving glass and garnish with lime or lemon zest.

Source: drinksmixer.com

7-Up, Grenadine, Icewine, Liquers, Orange, Pineapple, Rum, Triple Sec, Vodka

The Psycho

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Although all are inspired by the 1960 Hitchcock classic “Psycho”, this is one of the many cocktails which means different things to different people:

1) The Classic Psycho

  • 1 oz pineapple juice
  • 1 oz orange juice
  • ½ oz Bacardi white rum
  • ¼ oz Grenadine syrup
  • ¼ oz Galliano Herbal Liqueur

Mix well in a shaker, strain into a cocktail or low-ball glass and garnish with a pineapple chunk, orange slice and maraschino cherry.

2) The Icewine-Psycho

“I was inspired by the movie’s sweet and sour moments, as Mr. Bates seems to be a sweet charming man but is actually quite spooky and dangerous.” Karin Stanley, co-owner of New York cocktail lounge Dutch Kills.

  • 2 oz. Inniskillin Riesling Icewine
  • 1 oz. Appleton Estate Reserve Rum
  • ¾ oz. pineapple juice

Combine all ingredients in a high-ball glass, fill with crushed or cracked ice and top with a float of Angostura Bitters.

3) The Raving Psycho

  • ½ oz. Triple Sec
  • 1 oz. Vodka
  • 5 oz. 7-Up
  • 1 oz. Lemon Juice

Mix and serve over ice in a low-ball glass.

Brandy, Grenadine, Liquers, Orange, Vermouth

The Greta Garbo

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Not the pre-code 1930 film “Anna Christie” (“Gimme a visky with chincher ale and don’t be stinchy, baby.”), but a more exotic notion gave birth to this drink:

  • 1 oz brandy
  • 1 oz dry vermouth
  • 1 oz orange juice
  • 1/4 oz grenadine
  • dash of crème de menthe

Shake the ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled high-ball glass.

On YouTube:“Anna Christie” (1930) ordering her drink in sleazy speakeasy. Sleazy yes, but one still had to ring the bell to get in :-).
https://youtu.be/_8Rvqm5XR7E

Cognac, Lemon, Liquers

The Sidecar

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The Sidecar, listed by the International Bartenders Association in the “unforgettables” column, has it’s origin sometime between the End of World War I and the beginning of the roaring 20ies; the Paris Ritz has staked claims, it’s first found mentioned in 1922 and since then appearing in innumerable films, the latest probably being “The Bonfire of the Vanities” (1990):

  • 2 oz Cognac
  • 3/4 oz Lemon juice
  • 3/4 oz Triple sec

Pour all into cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake and strain into cocktail glass.

Chai Tea, Liquers, Rum

The Killer Coco Chai

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At least as unsettling as Javier Bardem‘s portrayal of Anton Chigurh in “No Country for Old Men” (2007), is this rum-based tea and white chocolate cocktail which was created in honour of this film:

  • 1 oz Malibu Rum
  • 2 oz chai tea
  • 1 oz white chocolate liqueur
  • garnish with a raspberry

Allow tea to cool, combine the rum and liqueur in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake well, strain into a chilled champagne glass and garnish with a raspberry. Explore at your own risk.

Lemon, Liquers

The Nightmare on Spice Street

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Recalling the serial killer in “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984) who murders his victims in their dreams, here’s a drink to keep you awake, though not sober:

  • 2 oz vanilla vodka
  • ½ oz pumpkin spice syrup*
  • ¾ oz lemon juice
  • ½ oz Bailey’s Irish Cream
  • ¼ oz Frangelico

Combine all ingredients in a shaker. Shake hard and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a dash of cinnamon.

* = For pumpkin spice syrup, blend the following ingredients until smooth:1 15 oz can of pumpkin puree2 cups water1 1/2 cups sugar1 tsp cinnamon1/2 tsp ground dried ginger1/2 tsp nutmeg1/4 tsp. ground cloves

Liquers

Holly’s White Angel

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Holly, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961): “Promise me one thing: don’t take me home until I’m drunk – very drunk indeed.”

  • 1 oz of white creme de cacao
  • 1 oz of heavy cream
  • garnish with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry

Pour white creme de cacao into a 2 oz shot glass for the first layer. Follow it up by floating 1 oz of heavy cream on top. Add whipped cream and a maraschino cherry.

Or iss it milk? A White Russian? A Knifey Moloko high-ball?

Brandy, Cointreau, Grenadine, Lime, Liquers, Pineapple

The Singapore Sling

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From Johnny Depp‘s “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” (1998):

  • 1 oz gin
  • ¼ oz Cointreau
  • ¼ ROM Bénedictine
  • ½ oz fresh lime juice
  • 2⅔ oz pineapple juice
  • ½ oz cherry brandy
  • ⅓ oz grenadine
  • 1 dash Angostura bitters

Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes, shake and strain into high-ball glass. Garnish with pineapple and cocktail cherry. For the professional: try a mezcal on the side.

Liquers, Scotch Whisky

The Godfather

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The origin of the drink is unclear, but legend has it that Marlon Brando favoured this cocktail during the shooting of Mario Puzo’s“The Godfather” (1972).

  • 1½ oz scotch whisky
  • ¾ oz amaretto almond liqueur

Bourbon instead of scotch is optional, on ice in an old-fashioned glass, and be sure to order in a joisey accent. Replace the scotch with vodka and you’ve got a “Godmother”, replace it with cream and you’ve got a “Godchild”. If you prefer Cognac instead of whiskey, check “The French Connection” elsewhere in this list.

Liquers, Vodka

The Dude’s White Russian

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The Dude‘s, of “The Big Lebowski” (1998) fame, favourite:

  • ⅔ oz coffee liqueur
  • 1⅔ oz vodka
  • 1 oz fresh cream

Pour coffee liqueur and vodka into an ice filled Old Fashioned glass. Float fresh cream on top and stir slowly. ”

And this film being a treasure trove memes and animated GIFs, 2nd perhaps only to “Animal House” (1978), here are a few I collected or rendered for my Twitter audience:

Cognac, Liquers

Rita’s Sweet Vermouth

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If French poetry doesn’t cut it, you might just try buying the love of your life her favourite drink … even if it’s not “Groundhog Day” (1993):

The Vermouth Cocktail

  • 2 oz sweet vermouth
  • 2 dashes maraschino liqueur (or Curaçao, or Grand Marnier)
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
  • 1-2 dashes simple syrup to taste
  • Twist of lemon peel to garnish

Mix ingredients in a mixing glass and fill with ice, stir well until chilled, strain into chilled cocktail glass. Twist lemon peel over drink and use as garnish.

There are, of course, any number of others to google: The Derby, The Jacobean, The Martinez, The Persephone, The Henry, The Copywriter, …

Liquers, Tequila

The Twisted Swan

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Created for the film “Black Swan” (2010), this cocktail makes no pretence whether the white or black swan has the high-ground.

Erica: “What happened to my sweet girl?”
Nina: “She’s gone!”

  • 1½ oz. Black Raspberry Liqueur
  • 1 oz. Maestro Dobel Tequila
  • ½ oz. Amaretto

Shake tequila and amaretto with ice, strain into chocolate-rimmed Martini glass, shake raspberry liqueur with ice and layer on top of the tequila and amaretto mixture.