Cocktails of the Movies

Cocktails of the Movies covers 72 cocktails from Hollywood’s greatest films, from Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot to The Big Lebowski’s White Russian.

Cocktails of the Movies first came out a few years ago, but here’s a revised and expanded edition which adds some cocktails from newer movies. These include 2017’s Girls Trip (the Hand Grenade) and 2018’s Game Night (the good old Harvey Wallbanger). Some older titles have also been added, including the Christmas classic White Christmas, in which Bing Crosby enjoys a Gin Alexander.

Cocktails of the Movies Format

You can see the format of the main entries from the typical two-page spread for the Black Russian, from Eddie Murphy’s 1982 movie, 48 Hrs.

The basic details of the movie come first (title, date, stars), followed by a recipe for the cocktail from the movie, and details of how to prepare it. The next section tells you something about the cocktail.

For example, I’d never heard of a Gin Alexander (well, it’s a long time since I watched White Christmas!), just a Brandy Alexander. In fact I remember it all too well from a late-night session at a hotel bar in Killarney many years ago. Ouch! But I learned from this book that the Gin Alexander actually pre-dates the Brandy Alexander. There then follows a potted summary of the film’s plot, though curiously it doesn’t always tell you where in the movie you’ll see the cocktail.

Cocktails of the Movies Illustrations

The words take up the left-hand side of each two-page spread, and on the right-hand side is a lovely illustration of the movie star by artist Stacey Marsh. These are a great part of the book’s visual appeal. Marsh has a distinctive style, as you can see, and is a visual designer and illustrator from Waterford in south-east Ireland.

Cocktails of the Movies: The Words

The author of the book is Will Francis, who seems to be Stacey’s partner, and this is what the book says about him:

‘Will Francis is a writer, commentator and educator on the ever-changing topic of media and technology.’

You learn some interesting snippets of cocktail history from the book, like this observation from the Introduction:

‘As you browse these pages you’ll notice that the earlier movies almost exclusively feature strong drinks served straight up – that is, in a tall cocktail glass with no ice – and with little in the way of garnish. As we approach the later decades of the 20th century, more tall and iced drinks appear, with a colourful crescendo in the 1990s when not a single drink featured here is served straight up or without ice.’

There are some interesting historical facts too: ‘By 1720 there were an estimated 7,000 gin shops in London alone.’

Beyond the Recipes

The book also has several sections to help you in making the cocktails. One spread shows you the different glassware that you need for different cocktails, while another covers the tools of the trade, things like muddlers and strainers, that are also necessary for some of the drinks. Yet another tells you what basic spirits you’re going to need behind your home bar to make these cocktails.

White Russian

My own favorite spread, because it’s a hilarious movie that I can watch over and over again, is on The Big Lebowski. This 1998 movie starred Jeff Bridges as The Dude, one of the most original characters in any movie ever, and perfectly played by Jeff Bridges. His drink is the White Russian, and he manages to make seven of them in the course of the movie.

Here’s what the book says about the drink, and the making of it:

‘One of the newer drinks in this book, the White Russian originated in mid-1960s America, though its creator is unknown. It is a variation on the Black Russian, a drink from the 1940s, with the addition of cream.

While the drink was popular in the 1960s and 1970s, its consumption declined until 1998, when this modern classic was thankfully revived. The Dude made it cool again, drinking seven of them with his inimitable nonchalance throughout The Big Lebowski. It is now a commonly ordered cocktail, and has variations ranging from the Dirty Russian (with chocolate milk instead of cream) to the White Cuban (rum instead of vodka).

2 oz / 50 ml vodka

1 oz / 25 ml coffee liqueur

1 oz / 25 ml single (light cream)

Pour the first two ingredients into an ice-filled Old-Fashioned glass and stir. Float the cream on top by pouring gently over the back of a spoon.’

Buying Cocktails of the Movies

This is a fun book that will make a good gift for anyone interested in cocktails and/or movies, or just for yourself. Definitely recommended as something different for your shelf of cocktail books.