From Don Draper’s clinking lowball to Brian Flanagan’s impressive flair moves, there’s a TV or movie cocktail to stir up nostalgia in all of us. Our bartenders have selected an eclectic mix of Big Screen cocktails to reignite a love for tipples of old and celebrate the classics that are still going strong.
1. Casino Royale: Vesper Martini
Think movies and cocktails and you’ll almost certainly think Bond. The Vesper Martini is the legendary cocktail sipped by James Bond in Casino Royale. Ordered in the middle of a high-stakes poker game in Montenegro, 007 makes his Vesper requirements pretty clear: 'Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon-peel. Got it?'
And so, the Vesper Martini was born. While the classic Martini has been around for a long time, the Vesper Martini was invented especially for James Bond.
What’s in a Vesper Martini?
· 45ml gin
· 15ml vodka
· 7.5ml Lillet Blanc (Kina Lillet no longer exists – Lillet Blanc is the modern alternative).
· Slice of lemon peel (we’d just use a wide piece of zest)
2. Cocktail: Margarita
The release of Top Gun: Maverick has brought Tom Cruise back, but does anyone remember that other eighties Tom Cruise classic? Perhaps not. But Cocktail did, of course, feature plenty of cocktails – most famously, the Red Eye, but more invitingly, the Margarita.
A traditional Margarita is essentially a Tequila Sour – if you like your slammers, you’ll love a Margarita.
What’s in a Classic Margarita?
· 50ml tequila
· 25ml Triple Sec
· 25ml fresh lime juice
You can’t go wrong with a classic, but for a modern twist carefully concocted from The Bartender’s years of cocktail expertise and some local magic from the Bristol Syrup Co., check out our Strawberry Margarita.
3. Mad Men: Old Fashioned
If you’ve watched Mad Men, you’ll know that Don Draper rarely misses an opportunity to clink some ice into a perfectly formed rocks glass. Almost as famous for its cocktails as for its iconic 1960s characters, Mad Men brought back the Old Fashioned – a must if you’re partial to a decent whiskey.
What’s in an Old Fashioned?
· 50ml bourbon
· A sugar cube (we prefer to use 10ml of demerara syrup)
· 3 dashes of Angostura bitters
4. The Big Lebowski: White Russian
Otherwise known as ‘The Big Boy Milkshake’ the White Russian was made famous by the character of Dude Lebowski, who spends his time bowling and drinking multiple White Russians. For a decadent milkshake-like cocktail with a kick, give this a try (although we’d recommend one or two as opposed Dude’s nine or ten!)
What’s in a White Russian?
· 35ml vodka
· 15ml coffee liqueur
· Top with cream (we think using milk is a lot more palatable)
You might also like our take on an Espresso Martini – put a Partay Latté on your menu when you hire one of our mobile bars.
5. The Roman Spring of Mrs Stone: Negroni
This is an oldie, but we had to include it because of its commitment to a cocktail that we’ve seen make a massive come-back: the Negroni.
In the 1961 flick, The Roman Spring of Mrs Stone, ageing actress Karen Stone finds herself widowed while on a trip to Rome, and subsequently begins an affair with a young gigolo. And the pair sip, of course, on Negronis.
What’s in a Negroni?
- 25ml sweet vermouth
- 25ml Campari
- 25ml gin
- A wedge of orange
With so much demand for Negronis at our mobile cocktail bars, we’ve included our local take, featuring Bristol Distilling Co. gin and The Aperitivo Co! Turin Vermouth, in our 2022 Menu.
6. The Queen’s Gambit: Gibson Martini
From a well-known Netflix TV miniseries, came a mention of a virtually forgotten Martini favourite, distinguished by its savoury garnish. Swap an olive for a pickled onion and enjoy a taste of times gone by with a retro Gibson Martini.
What’s in a Gibson Martini?
· 50ml gin
· 10ml dry vermouth (to taste)
· Silverskin pickled onions
7. Die Another Day: Mojito
Another day, another Bond movie, but this time he’s not drinking a Martini. In 2002’s Die Another Day, 007 branches out and orders a Mojito while in Cuba. “Mojito? You should try it,” James says to Halle Berry as she appears from the pool. And thus, the Mojito shot to popularity.
Still one of our most popular cocktails, the Mojito features on our sustainable, ethical 2022 Menu and is best served with our locally grown fresh mint and churned, not stirred by our professional cocktail bartenders.
What’s in a Mojito?
· 50ml rum
· 8 mint leaves
· 25ml lime juice
· 15ml sugar syrup
· Top with soda
We supply complete mobile bar hire, cocktail waiter services and cocktail experiences to private events across the South-West. Whether it’s a movie themed birthday party, an elegant wedding or a brand experience corporate event, our mobile bars and professional cocktail bartenders will make it easy for you and endlessly fun for your guests.
Get in touch today and start planning your party.