Drinks for Your Favorite Books
By Emma Woodhead
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Esther’s Martini for “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath
The Martini is a staple for its timeless charm and distinctive smell and taste. The sharp taste due to either the drinker’s choice of vodka or gin causes the flavor to stay within one’s mouth and linger as the drink continues. Similar to the lingering mental battle that Esther faces in the novel, her supposedly clear future is becoming blurry and causes her to struggle in her journey as a young woman.
Ingredients: 1/2 oz (1 part) Dry vermouth, 3 oz (6 parts) Gin or Vodka
Preparation:
1) Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice cubes.
2) Stir well.
3) Strain in chilled martini cocktail glass.
4) Squeeze oil from lemon peel onto the drink, or garnish with olive.
Served: Straight or on the rocks (on ice)
Standard garnish: Lemon twist, Olive
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French 75 for “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The raging parties and timeless tale of The Great Gatsby have become an American classic but like the French 75. Both known for their lavish styles and beloved feelings, both Gatsby and the French 75 represent the highs and lows of wild parties and hanging onto the past. For Gatbsy, it is Daisy, and for the French 75, it is the French soldiers who gladly enjoyed it during their time in World War I.
The French 75 also pays homage to one of Fitzgerald’s closest friends, being it is said to be one of Hemingway’s favorite drinks to enjoy while writing.
Ingredients: 1 oz Gin, 1/2 oz Lemon juice, 2 Dashes Simple syrup, 2 oz Champagne
Preparation:
1) Combine gin, syrup, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2) Shake vigorously.
3) Strain into an iced champagne glass.
4) Top up with Champagne.
5) Stir gently.
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White Russian for “The Possessed” (or “The Demons”) by Fyodor Dostoevsky
The Possessed (or The Demons) by Fyodor Dostoevsky is the story of young men slowly corrupting the town they are in as murder, crime, and madness starts to swallow the town whole. Meant to reflect the fever of revolution and the terrorism that was suffocating Russia at the end of the 19th century, The Possessed shows what happens when the dark underbelly of society corrupts the innocent.
The White Russian is a classic drink that balances the strong taste of vodka and coffee
along with sweeter ingredients like milk and cream. Finding the balance between these ingredients is an essential part of crafting The White Russian; the same can be said for society.
Ingredients: 1 2/3 oz (5 parts) Vodka, 1 oz (3 parts) Fresh cream, 2/3 oz (2 parts) Coffee liqueur
Preparation:
1) Pour coffee liqueur and vodka into an Old Fashioned glass filled with ice.
2) Float fresh cream on top
3) Stir slowly.
Served:On the rocks; poured over ice.
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The Bacchanal for “The Secret History” by Donna Tartt
A Bacchanal is a Dionysian ritual of throwing massive parties that would last for days. In The Secret History, the sins of the students that were committed during their Bacchanal come back to haunt them as well as a new student who joins them. The students start to lose their grip on sanity as they deal with the consequences of their actions.
Dionysus was the Greek god of wine, parties, and ecstasy. The Bacchanal represents all that Dionysus and his legacy is.
This drink is also featured in The New Parthenon’s upcoming short film The Nightshift.
The drink, thought of and created by our production team, represents the desire to live for that night rather than the next day when it comes to the longing for someone.
Ingredients: 4oz of Champagne, 1oz of Red Wine, 1/2 oz of Vodka
Preparation:
1) Pour champagne and vodka into a shaker
2) Add ice and shake
3) Strain into glass
4)Float red wine
Due to our actors being under the legal age to drink in the film, for a non-alcoholic version of The Bacchanal, pour 4oz of sparkling Apple cider and 1 ½ oz of Cranberry juice into a glass.
