The ever-growing popularity of cocktails in the dynamic gastronomy culture across the globe is heartening to see for all cocktail enthusiasts. Popular culture has majorly impacted preferences and shaped trends, especially when it comes to what we drink. When viewers see a beloved character sipping on a particular cocktail, it assumes an aspirational quality in their subconscious mind.
Some of the best bars across the world have curious drinks that combine flavour such as tabasco with vodka, and camphor cordial with gin—there is truly no end to what can be served in a glass. When patrons are willing to experiment, no cocktail or its iterations become out of bounds. This fuels the popularity of on-screen cocktails beyond the regulars. Mixologists share recipes of the most iconic cocktails to grace the screen for you to try your hands on.
Vesper Martini
Vesper Martini is the signature drink of cinema`s most famous spy—James Bond. Pic/Butterfly High
James Bond is as iconic as they get when it comes to cinematic figures. The British spy’s preferred cocktail Vesper Martini was introduced in Casino Royale—the first Bond book by Ian Fleming. Even if you aren’t a fan of the franchise, every cocktail enthusiast knows Bond liked his Martini ‘shaken not stirred’—which is the opposite of how a traditional one is made. “People follow what they see on film and television. The Bond franchise has fans across the globe who love Bond’s charisma and wish to emulate his taste. No wonder Bond changed the classic Martini by shaking it rather than stirring it,” says Avril Gonsalves, head mixologist at Butterfly High.
Ingredients
Gin 20ml, Vodka 20ml, Lillet blanc 20ml, lemon twist for garnish
Method
Add the gin, vodka, and Lillet blanc in a shaker, and shake over ice.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Express the oils from a lemon twist over the drink, rub the twist along the rim of the glass and drop it into the cocktail.
Cosmopolitan
Carrie Bradshaw`s favourite Cosmopolitan has become a classic today. Pic/istock
Stars of the widely popular show ‘Sex and the City’ turned the Cosmopolitan into the go-to drink at the turn of the millennium. Lead characters Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda sipped on countless ‘Cosmos’ while taking Manhattan by storm during the show’s six-year run. The famed rose-tinted cocktail continues to be in vogue. “Cocktails, by nature, go hand-in-hand with glamour and a sense of romance. This is what has always driven people to try what they have seen across cinema and television. However, I believe what’s kept them coming back is the overall appeal and the delicious taste,” says Ankur Bhatia, founder and CEO of Jimmy’s Cocktails.
Ingredients
Vodka 40ml, Triple Sec 20 ml, lime juice 20 ml, Cranberry Juice 20 ml, orange zest twist 1
Method
Fill a shaker with ice cubes.
Add all ingredients in the shaker.
Shake and strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with an orange zest twist.
Old Fashioned
Whiskey-based Old Fashioned was the preferred choice of Mad Men`s lead Don Draper. Pic/Wakai
Old Fashioned is a classic featuring on almost all cocktail menus across the globe. The whisky-cocktail was a rage in the 1950s and 1960s—the era popular show ‘Mad Men’ is based in. Old Fashioned was the lead character–Don Draper’s drink of choice. Many modern versions of the cocktail have cropped up in the last few years, but fans and patrons continue to want theirs the old fashioned way. “Popular culture has always led to trends and these also translate occasionally into the drinks we create. Take in the classic Old Fashioned to give people a taste of popular culture and celebrate the Rennaisance of Whiskey the world over,” shares Peter D’costa, bar manager at Wakai.
Ingredients
Bourbon Whiskey 60ml, cube sugar 1, Angostura bitter 3 dashes
Method
1. Muddle one cube of sugar.
2. Add 3 dashes of Angosutra bitters.
3. Add 60ml Bourbon.
4. Stir to mellow down the sugar
5. Add ice, and stir to mellow.
6. Garnish it with orange peel and cherry.
French 75
An icon from early 20th century, French 75 continues to have patrons across the globe. Pic/The Little Easy
A staple from the roaring 1920s, the French 75 is a brunch favourite. A renewed interest in the cocktail can be attributed to the iconic movie Casablanca (1942). “The French 75 became known during the peak prohibition period in the United States. Considering it was born during the dry period, and The Little Easy was conceptualised around that era, we decided to add the French 75 to the menu when we launched over four years ago. There was a similar cocktail that was seen in World War I that was inspired by the French 75mm field gun, however it was only perfected in the early 1900s, and then gained popularity with the movie Casablanca where the lead character played by Humphrey Bogart regularly sipped on the cocktail at the nightclub, shares Vishesh Shah, founder of The Little Easy.
Ingredients
Gin 30ml, lime juice 15ml, simple syrup 15ml, Champagne
Method
Add the lime juice and simple syrup to the shaker and stir.
Add Gin to the shaker and ice.
Shake and strain into a Champagne flute.
Top up with Champagne.
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From James Bond’s Martini to Carrie Bradshaw’s Cosmopolitan, popular culture influences the way we drink. Mixologists share easy-to-follow recipes of cocktails that have reached cult status thanks to their on-screen appearances.
