Iconic Movie Cocktails and How to Make Them
Lights, camera, cocktails
Some cocktails are more than something you sip. They’re scene stealers, forever linked to the movies that made them famous. These three cinematic classics are easy to make at home and even better when mixed with spirits made close to home.
The French 75
The elegant French 75 feels tailor-made for the smoky romance of Casablanca, a drink that practically orders itself while someone murmurs, “Here’s looking at you, kid.” Using Bulrush Gin from Hilton Head Island brightens the cocktail with crisp botanicals that lift the citrus and bubbles, giving it a little sparkle without stealing the scene.
Here’s looking at you, cocktail
Shake 1 ounce gin, 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice and 1/2 ounce simple syrup with ice, briskly but with restraint. You’re aiming for charming, not chaotic. Strain into a champagne flute, top with Champagne, and admire the bubbles doing all the heavy lifting. Finish with a lemon twist. Take a sip, cue the piano, and let “As Time Goes By” do the rest.
The Dude’s White Russian
Few drinks are as inseparable from a character as the white Russian is from The Dude in The Big Lebowski. Easygoing and indulgent, it’s a cocktail that doesn’t try too hard. Burnt Church Distillery’s Bourbon Cream from Bluffton deepens the drink with warm notes of vanilla and caramel, adding Southern richness while keeping its laid-back soul intact.
The Dude abides (so take it easy)
Fill a rocks glass with ice. Not fancy ice. Just ice. Add 2 ounces vodka and 1 ounce coffee liqueur, and give it a moment to get acquainted. Gently float 1 ounce of bourbon cream over the top like you’ve got nowhere else to be. Stir slowly, or don’t. Either way, take a sip, relax your shoulders, and remember: this drink is not here to rush you.
James Bond’s Vodka Martini
James Bond’s famously precise order made the vodka martini a symbol of cool confidence. Swapping in Rotten Little Bastard King Tide Vodka from Beaufort gives the drink extra backbone. At 90 proof, it’s smooth but assertive, sharpening the martini’s clean lines and giving it a little more edge, much like Bond himself.
Licensed to chill
Fill a shaker with ice, then add 2 1/2 ounces vodka and 1/2 ounce dry vermouth. Shake with purpose. This is not the time for hesitation. Strain into a properly chilled martini glass because Bond would absolutely judge a warm one. Garnish with olives, adjust your cufflinks, and serve immediately. Shaken, not overthought.
