If you’re hosting a party or just want to get creative in the kitchen, you can drink like a movie star by making a cocktail from a world famous film.
To get you in the party mood and give you some inspiration for your night on the tiles, we’ve rounded up the recipes for some classic cocktails created by your favourite film characters. Whether you want to stay smooth like James Bond with a vodka martini, or keep it classy with a cosmopolitan like Carrie from Sex and the City, there’s a drink on this list for everyone.
Cheers!
JAMES BOND
Vodka Martini
We all know the line “shaken, not stirred”, and you’re probably not the only one who’s ordered a Vodka Martini in the hope of being as cool as James Bond. The link between movie and drink is so strong, it’s become practically impossible to order a Vodka Martini without channeling your inner Sean Connery. After Champagne, the Vodka Martini is the drink most often consumed by Bond (over 20 times) – so here’s how to make the perfect one.
Vodka Martini
Ingredients
- 15 ml/½fl oz vermouth
- 60 ml/2fl oz Tyrrells potato vodka or other potato vodka
- twist lemon peel to garnish
Instructions
- Pour the vermouth and vodka into a mixing glass and fill with ice cubes. Stir well and then strain into a small Martini glass.
- Garnish with a twist of lemon peel and serve.
THE BIG LEBOWSKI
White Russian
When first released in 1998 The Big Lebowski didn’t quite take off, leaving many viewers disappointed. However years later, the Coen Brothers’ became cult stars and the movie, a cult classic. As popularity grew, so did the movie’s main cocktail – the White Russian.
A combination of vodka, coffee liqueur, and light cream, the White Russian — or “Caucasian,” as Lebowski called it — appears nine times during the film, meaning a LOT of vodka was consumed, not to mention the caffeine.
If you want to be a real ‘dude’, here’s how to make one.
White Russian
Ingredients
- 2 oz Vodka
- 1 oz Coffee Liqueur Like Kahlua
- 1/2 oz Whole Milk or Heavy Cream
- Ice
Instructions
- In a rocks glass combine vodka and coffee liqueur over ice
- Add milk or cream and stir
- Optional Step 3. Put on your best plain white tee, and channel your inner 'Dude'.
MEET THE PARENTS
Tom Collins
If you’ve not seen Meet the Parents, then you’re probably the only one, as the Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro comedy had the whole world cringing, laughing and biting their nails.
Although Robert De Niro’s character was a pretty tough cookie, he did have great taste when it comes to cocktails. His favorite drink referenced throughout the movie is the classic Tom Collins, a strong gin based cocktail that packs a real punch and has a bitter kick.
Interestingly, it’s not the first movie in which De Niro has had an on-screen connection with the classic highball cocktail. In the gangster epic “Casino,” Tom Collins is the alias that his character, Sam “Ace” Rothstein, uses to register his personal safe deposit box.
Here’s how to make the perfect Tom Collins cocktail.
Tom Collins
Ingredients
- 1 Parts Bombay Sapphire Gin
- Juice of half a lemon
- 2 Parts Soda Water
- 2 tsp Caster Sugar
- Lemon Wedge
- Ice
Instructions
- Add the freshly squeezed lemon juice, sugar and Bombay Sapphire to a clean highball glass and stir
- Add plenty of cubed ice and stir again
- Top with soda water and stir for a final time
- Garnish with the lemon wedge then serve
CASABLANCA
French 75
It’s no surprise that the French 75 is referenced in Casablanca, as the majority of the movie is shot in a gin-joint – so it makes perfect sense to see some gin-based cocktails being poured.
The now-legendary French 75, is a boozy World War I-era concoction said “to hit you with the full force of a 75-millimeter French artillery gun.” So if you’re brave enough to give this a go, here’s the recipe.
French 75
Ingredients
- 2 ounces London dry gin
- ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- 2 ounces Champagne
- Long spiral lemon twist for serving
Instructions
- Combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker.
- Fill shaker with ice, cover, and shake vigorously until outside of shaker is very cold, about 20 seconds.
- Strain cocktail through a Hawthorne strainer or a slotted spoon into a large flute. Top with Champagne; garnish with lemon twist.
THE BLUES BROTHERS
Orange Whip
A little lighter on the palette, the Orange Whip is a creamy, delicious, rum based cocktail perfect for a summer night. Like all the cocktails mentioned on this list, the Orange Whip became popular thanks to a smash hit movie – and in this instance, we’re talking about The Blues Brothers.
In the 1980s musical-comedy, Jake Candy’s character orders three of the Orange Whip cocktails, declaring: “Who wants an Orange Whip? Orange Whip? Orange Whip? Three Orange Whips!” That line is pretty famous now!
Orange Whip
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Cream
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1 ounce rum
- 4 ounces orange juice
Instructions
- 4 ounces orange juice
- Blend all the ingredients in a blender for 30 seconds.
- Line a glass with ice and pour the drink into the glass.
- Stir.
- Enjoy!
SEX AND THE CITY
Cosmopolitan
Heading out with the girls? Why not start the night off with some classy Cosmopolitans? Made famous by no other than Ms Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City, this delicious, easy to make cocktail is known for being glamorous, glitzy and full of sass. Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda enjoy the pink drink throughout the series. Team with a designer handbag and some Louboutin’s if you want to make a serious impression at the bar.
Cosmopolitan
Ingredients
- 1/2 oz Fresh lime juice
- 1 oz Cranberry juice
- 1/2 oz Cointreau
- 1 1/2 oz Vodka Citron
Instructions
- Add all ingredients into cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake well and double strain into large cocktail glass.
- Garnish with lime wheel.
Whiskey Sours
The Seven Year Itch
A movie featuring no other than Miss Marilyn Monroe is sure to steal the spotlight, and in The Seven Year Itch, it’s not just the leading lady that saw huge success, as the cocktail she made did, too.
In The Seven Year Itch, Sherman says “Miss Morris, I’m perfectly capable of fixing my own breakfast. As a matter of fact, I had a peanut butter sandwich and two whiskey sours.”
We wouldn’t recommend having whiskey sours for breakfast; but here’s a recipe.
Whiskey Sours
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz. Whiskey or bourbon
- 1.5 oz. Lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1 Egg white
- ½ tsp. Sugar powdered
- Maraschino cherry
Instructions
- Shake whiskey, lemon juice, egg white and sugar in a shaker with ice.
- Now, strain the drink into an old fashioned whiskey glass and garnish it with cherries.
