8 Cocktails with a literary twist: BEVVIES FOR BIBLIOPHILES

Looking for a new take on drinks with friends? Here’s one with a literary twist—fiction’s favourite cocktails. Some were sipped by classic characters, others were inspired by authors and book titles, a few are just an excuse to giggle. So grab a shaker, and gather your favourite bibliophiles. It’s time to celebrate great books, bad puns and the last of the mojitos.

1. Tequila Mockingbird

This southern sipper is, of course, inspired by Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, published in 1960. Bursting with summer’s brightest flavours, this delightful cocktail is its own modern classic.

Muddle 1 1/2 cups of cubed watermelon in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Next, fill the shaker with ice, and add 2 ounces of silver tequila, 1/2 teaspoon green-mint liqueur, 1 ounce of freshly squeezed lime juice and 1 teaspoon agave syrup (one part agave nectar, one part water). Shake until ice cold, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass filled with ice. Garnish with mint, and sip responsibly.

2. Death In the Afternoon

Inspired by Hemingway’s 1923 novel,
Death In the Afternoon, this cocktail is a nod to both his affinity for absinthe and his meditations on mortality.

To a fluted champagne glass, add 1 1/2 ounces absinthe, 1 teaspoon simple syrup and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Top with a generous amount (5 ounces) of icy-cold, dry sparking wine (such as cava) or champagne, and serve.

3. The Oxford Comma

This one’s for your favourite grammar geek—the one you love but loathe emailing. True to form, the list of ingredients is perfectly punctuated with big flavours, a perfect finish and, of course, a curly twist.

To a chilled cocktail glass, add 2 ounces of gin, 1/2 ounce of dry vermouth, 1/2 ounce of green Chartreuse, 1 teaspoon maraschino liqueur, and a dash of celery bitters. Garnish with a curly comma of lemon peel, and serve.

4. Are You There God?
   It’s Me, Margarita

Okay, this one’s really just a cute excuse to drink margaritas. But if you have fond memories of Margaret, raise your first glass in Judy Blume’s honour.

To a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add 1 1/2 ounces of Reposado tequila, 1 ounce of freshly squeezed lime juice, 1/2 teaspoon orange liqueur, 1/2 ounce of triple sec, 1 tablespoon of simple syrup, and shake until ice cold. Pour into a chilled glass rimmed with salt and lime zest, and enjoy.

5. Oliver’s Twist

If you’re going to toast an 1837 novel by Charles Dickens, you had best be serving a proper martini. This one’s a classic and sure to have you saying, “Please, Sir. I want some more.”

To a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add 2 1/2 ounces gin, 1 ounce vodka, a squeeze of lemon juice and a squeeze of lime. Shake until ice cold, and pour into a chilled martini glass. Top with 1 ounce of lemon-lime pop, and garnish with an olive on a skewer.

6. Holly Golighty

If you have a taste for Breakfast at Tiffany’s, this 1958-inspired cocktail is for you. Like Holly herself, this drink’s sparkly, indulgent and strikes quite the pretty pose. A perfect choice for brunches or for lazy afternoons.

To a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add 2 ounces of lemonade, 1 ounce of vodka, 1 tablespoon pomegranate juice, and shake until ice cold. Pour into a sugar-rimmed champagne flute, and top with sparkling wine (or lemon-lime pop). Garnish with cherry, and enjoy.

7. Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster

Fans of The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, unite! This glass of wickedness is for you. A sipper—for sure—this tribute to Douglas Adam’s 1978 cult classic is sure to make an impression.

To a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add 1 ounce of Tennessee whisky, 1 ounce peach schnapps, 5 ounces orange juice and a splash of Blue Curacao liqueur. Shake until ice cold, and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon, and watch out for large gold bricks.

8. The Catcher in the Rye

Say hello to a very dry and very memorable sherry cocktail. Inspired by its literary namesake, this drink is a wink to both J.D. Salinger and the 1950s. Be forewarned though: in terms of potency, teenage rebellion has nothing on this bevvie. A definite nightcap.

To a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add 1 1/2 ounces rye, 1 ounce sherry, 1/4 ounce Torani Amer, 1/4 ounce Grand Marnier and a dash of vanilla-bean bitters. Shake until ice cold, and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a thin slice of orange peel. t8n