Movies and Mimicry. The Classic, Craft cocktails of Film-Part 2

Six Days in the desert!

Six days have passed, and it has been six days since I left you hanging on part 1 of movie cocktails. Your thirst is great. I get it. 
Fear not, loyalists and sometimes readers-I have not left you for good. I'm back. 

I had a very busy week of family gatherings, my husbands birthday, his music gigs, and other odds and ends. Apologies for being scarce. 

But....life. It always has a way of catching up to you. 

I'm going to try to pump out at least three posts this week, because this coming weekend is going to be pretty packed with family stuff also. 

Where is the Bond Martini?! Where, I ask you?!
For this is surely the most known and special cocktail to ever grace the screen. 
Keep your pants on-PLEASE-no one wants to see that.
Well, unless you happen to be Henry Cavill-in which case-strip at will, son. ;)

Anyway, no worries...we will get to the Bond effort.
Read along, and your wish will come true.
The fairy Grandmother of crafty bar-fuckery will grant your wish. 

Patience in all things of beauty-including the Bond martini.  

So-with no further ado. 

Part 2-Movies and Mimickry-The Classic Craft Cocktails of Film. 

First up:
Groundhog Day.

The ultimate time loop comedy starring-Illinois' own-Mr. Dalai Lama himself-Bill Murray. 
The ingénue of this film is Andi McDowell, who has honestly never impressed this tender as an actress or a looker. But, my hubs will disagree-wholeheartedly.
She's just not my cuppa in either vain.
However, Rita-her character, does order a classy and sassy bygone cocktail that raised my eyebrow as we viewed this movie last week.
I had never caught it while watching before-and was very surprised that this has EVER been a thing, but to each his or her own, as they say. 

The drink?
Sweet vermouth-rocks, with a twist. 

Odd you say? I'd agree.
Most Manhattan drinkers ask for scant vermouth in their cocktail, because, as it is typically made as a fortified wine or sherry-it makes the cocktail VERY alcohol-heavy and hard to drink without landing on the floor early. 
So, it has always been difficult for me to understand the appeal of such a hardcore sipper. 
But, in my research, many upscale tenders are screaming: 
"Don't call it a comeback! I been here for years-I'm rockin' my peers, puttin' suckers in fear!"

Ladies love Cool James, you know. 

Around the world, and around the way, girl-vermouth is continuing to expand in exciting ways.
It shows increasing personality and flair- based solely on where it comes from.
Spain, for instance, has a spate of sherry-based vermouths from a group of legacy makers.
I hear that these are pleasant and luscious enough to sip and enjoy with no kickback. 

Whereas-Going back to Cali-has debuted a line of juicy, fruit forward, vermouths outside of the standard Lillet Blanc that is the preferred dusty of every domestic lounge in the U.S.

These come across as a great apertif choice with super citrusy notes-making them a great, classy, summertime cocktail. 

I'm waiting for you to say: I see what you did there, with the LL Cool J references. You're welcome. 

Mama said knock you out. Sweet Vermouth with a twist.

Our next cocktail is a nod to my fabulous husband. 
To qualify early, I will not watch this movie. I have watched it, and it makes me nauseous. Truly nauseous.
Not, metaphorically-like literally makes me want to eat backwards all over my living room floor.
It's well acted and has the correct amount of eye candy for consumption. But, after watching-just like a night of debauchery and drinking all that happens is a case of the spins and a technicolor yawn. 

Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas. 

I mean who doesn't love watching a weeks' worth of depravity and overuse of drugs and alcohol, amiright? 
Look, if I wanted to see that-I'd go back to bartending.
That's pretty much a typical Tuesday in the industry. 
However, the focus here is the featured cocktail:

The Singapore Sling. 

A classic, multi-liquor concoction that has been the penchant for the fruity-side drinkers of Long Island Iced Teas for years past, and apparently present, and it is making a comeback. (Don't call it a comeback!) 

I have personally called it the pink drink for grown ups.

This bad girl of the cocktail world is gin based, but also holds
DOM Benedictine liqueur, Cherry liqueur, and Cointreau (triple sec) with lime juice, simple syrup, and a float of club soda or sprite-dependent on how sweet you like her. 
Hunter S. Thompson-or his alter ego of the film-Raoul Duke orders his with a size of Mezcal. Which is as ridiculous as he is. Not necessarily in a bad way, either.
Hunter always prided himself as an abstract, and this drink-with the sidecar of agave-based liquor spells out the full phrase "It's just so ridiculous!" 

Don't worry, I'm not transitioning from LL to Eddie Murphy- on this post, anyway.
My mind tends to wander like a toddler in the McDonalds ball pit.
I'm fun. I'm lovin' it. 

Anyway, the scene takes place at The Pogo Lounge in the Beverly Hills Hotel. But the drink itself originates from Raffles Lounge in Singapore and got its story from the original Gin Sling cocktail and gin's historic ties to British maritime power during the colonial days. 
Herbal in nature with the aromatics of the juniper in gin, the DOM Benedictine has no less than 27 herbs and spices in each bottle. Think-Jagermeister on steroids.
This liqueur on its own is considered a digestive tonic, but adds a very spicy kick to an otherwise boring tropical concoction. 
This drink hits you high with floral, citrus, and herbal notes. Nothing typical. A supremely unique beverage-not unlike Asian cuisine. 

Raffles Long Bar original Singapore Sling

Last and never least-the cocktail you have all been pining for, is here. 

From Casino Royale-The Vesper Martini. 

Okay, we could talk about the classic martini of 007's past, but-we all know about that one, right? 

First of all, I have mentioned it a plethora of times in past posts, and secondly-who hasn't heard the phrase: "Martini-shaken, not stirred"
Unless you are:
1. Amish 
or
2. Living under a rock or in a cave for your entire life. 

So we talk about the reinvention of the classic. 

The Vesper. 

The drink was named after the love of-arguably- James' life-Vesper Lynd. 
This half and half martini uses both gin and vodka and a discontinued aromatized white wine called Kina Lillet (mentioned above as a supreme dusty) 

Fictional in nature-but a tasty kind of fiction-not to be confused with spicy, or porn-like. 

" A dry martini. One. In a deep champagne goblet. Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of kina lillet. Shake it very well, until ice cold, then add a large, thin, slice of lemon peel..."
-Bond, James Bond. Casino Royale.

While Bond's drink could technically be thought of as a double, it's easily tamped down to more drinkable standards. I mean, we can't all be James, afterall. And while I mentioned that Kina Lillet was discontinued back in 1986, Lillet Blanc is a great sub. Some prefer Cocchi Americano-However, because it does contain quinine, others do not. 

Fun fact-Gordon's gin has also been reformulated to a lower proof in American markets, causing some purists to insist on using an alternative 94 proof dry gin like Boodles or Tanqueray in place of the Gordons.  

The Vesper is a fun "twist" on a classic and has a pretty popular following since the film's release. If you are a martini traditionalist, try this anyway-you'll likely be surprised at how much you like it. And most importantly, how debonair you feel while sipping it. Wear a tux and make it an occasion-why not? 

It's okay if you don't fit the Bond-bill physically-you'll still feel like a stud. 
Okay maybe not, but you'll get drunk anyway. 

Don't stir it, you bloody twat. 

And that, is part 2 of Movies and Mimicry. I'll likely have more of these later. There are a LOT of movie cocktails to cover. These just happened to be the most iconic in my mind. 

So, sip up. Flirt with danger. Try something new. 

Or old. 

And whatever you do. 

Don't call it a comeback. 

"I drink too much. Last time I had a urine test, it had an olive in it..."
-Rodney Dangerfield (Caddyshack)

Your around the way girl,

T