Beverages in Big Screen

No matter, if you are in the US, in Spain, or in Japan - when you enter a pub and want to order your favorite drink or cocktail, it will probably be in the menu. Many drinks are named after movie titles, or are popularized thanks to their presence in some US blockbusters or TV series. Globalization works also in the area of beverages ... so let's find out what are the roots of the most universal alcoholic cocktails.

1. Movie: The Seven Year Itch (1955), drink: Wiskey Sour

One of the best known movies with Marylin Monroe, which includes the iconic scene of her standing over a subway grate as her dress is blown up. Her partner in the movie, a grass widower Richard Sherman (Tom Ewell), tries to prove that he is capable of preparing himself a perfect breakfast, namely a peanut butter sandwich and two Whiskey Sours.

Try it out:
1 1 1/2 oz bourbon (or rye, or Irish whiskey)
1 1/2 oz lemon juice, fresh squeezed
1/2 - 3/4 tsp sugar
Orange slice
Maraschino cherry

2. Movie: Psycho (1960), drink: Psycho

There is no direct connection between the famous Alfred Hitchcock's thriller and the alcoholic coctail. The only reason for the drink's name can be its effect on human beings - crazy headache and hangover!

If you can hold yours liquor:
4 cl Bacardi® white rum
2 cl Galliano® herbal liqueur
8 cl orange juice
8 cl pineapple juice
2 cl grenadine syrup

3. Movie: The Godfather (1972), drink: The Godfather

This cocktail brings to mind a picture of a cutthroat mobster in a suit and a bow tie, sitting in an exclusive armchair made of luxury leather. Try it in this kind of garment and scenery! 

The recipe:
1 1/2 oz Scotch Whiskey
3/4 oz amaretto almond liqueur

4. Movie: Blue Lagoon (1980), drink: Blue Lagoon

The drink's color and name conjure up the thoughts of an exquisite tropical landscape of ocean and beach. If you are not lucky enough to live in Hawaii or Majorca, order it and feel the fresh breeze of ocean's wind in your mouth.

Or prepare it at home:
1 oz vodka
1 oz Blue Curacao liqueur
Lemonade to taste
1 cherry garnish

5. Movie: Coctail (1988), drink: Red-Eye

The main protagonist of the movie, Brian Flanagan (Tom Cruise), starts to work as a bartender. While learning the tricks of his new trade, Brian gets acquainted with an unusual mixture of beverages (Red-Eye), which is said to help hangovers.

If you suffer from a hangover, try this:
1 oz vodka
6 oz tomato juice
1 can of beer
1 raw egg

6. Movie: The Big Lebowski (1998), drink: White Russian

The protagonists of this criminal comedy drink White Russians, also known as Caucasians, many times throughout the action. White Russian was well-known before the Coen Brothers film, though it revived in 1998.

Something for coffee fans:
2 oz vodka
1 oz Kahlua or other coffee-flavored liqueur
1 oz light cream

7. TV series: Sex and the City (1998-2004), drink: Cosmopolitan

Carrie Bradshaw, Samantha Jones, Charlotte York and Miranda Hobbes revolutionized traditional minds of many women in the world. Six seasons of TV series and two full-length films offer a lot of insight into the four protagonists' sexual peripeties, fashion choices, and New York parties, during which they always drink Cosmos.

If you want to feel like in NY, try this:
1/2 jigger lime juice
1 jigger vodka (Absolut Citron vodka is best)
1 jigger Triple Sec
1 jigger Cranberry Juice Cocktail

Sources:
Filmweb
Top 10 Movie Drinks
Drinks Named After Movies

Cheers! To Native Americans!

If you ever wondered, what did Native Americans drink, this post is for you.

Contrary to what is believed, they did have alcohol. As an example let us look at the Tohono O'odham Indians who had their own alcoholic drink from saguaro. Saguaro is a cactus and happens to be the largest one in the world. The drink is called tiswin and was brewed from corn. However, it is not so potent as the alcohol brought to America by the white settlers.

Here you have a recipe how to make it:

Saguaro Cactus

Tiswin (Traditional Pueblo Corn Drink)

Ingredients:

5 lbs dried white corn
      2 gallons water
      1 1/2 c brown sugar
      2 dried orange peels
      3 cinnamon sticks
      1 t ground cloves  

Oven-roast corn at 300 degrees until light brown, stirring frequently.  Grind
 coarsely in food chopper or in small quantities in blender.  Wash (using several 
 rinses, clean water each time), and discard hulls. 
 Put in crock and stir in water and other ingredients.  Cover and let sit in a barely
 warm place for five or six days or until fermented.  Strain through cheesecloth
 and serve.  
 

Another Indian drink (soft one, this time) is called pinole.

It originates from the central part of the American Continent and from Mexico. 

Pinole is a hot corn drink, which is sweet thanks to sugar and cinnamon 

that are added to it. 

Intriguied? Here is the recipe:

 Pinole (Hot Corn Drink)

  Ingredients:

2 c blue or white cornmeal
      1/2 c sugar
      1/2 t cinnamon
      milk

Brown the cornmeal in a hot 425 degree oven for 8-10 minutes by spreading
 in a thin layer on a cookie sheet, stirring several times to prevent scorching.  Add 
 sugar and cinnamon and use like cocoa in about the same proportions, stirred into 
 hot milk and simmered for 15 minutes.

Recipies taken from HERE.