Packed full of retro glitz and glamour, Water for Elephants is released in cinemas on May 4th, starring Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon.
The film is set in the US during the prohibition era, when alcohol was outlawed and cocktails ruled supreme as a way of hiding the taste of cheap illicit moonshine, so we’re celebrating the speakeasy style with a look at some classic cocktails from the 1920s and 30s.
Be sure to read carefully – because if you can answer the question at the end, you could win tickets to the film’s UK premiere on 3rd May to hit the red carpet with the stars!
Gin Fizz
The best known of the ‘Fizz’ family of cocktails, this still-popular creation has been a hit since the turn of the 20th century.
• 50ml Gin
• Juice of half a lemon
• 10ml “gomme” sugar syrup (or 1 tsp sugar)
• Soda water
Pour gin, lemon juice and gomme syrup over ice and shake. Strain into a glass and top up with soda water.
Bentley
Just like the classic car, this is a stylish classic cocktail from the 1920s.
• 50ml applejack brandy
• 50ml Dubonnet
Pour the brandy and Dubonnet over ice, stir, then strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a twist of orange.
Between the Sheets
A fruity and seductive 1930s creation!
• 30ml brandy
• 30ml Cointreau
• 30ml light rum
• dash fresh lemon juice
Pour all ingredients into a shaker with ice, shake, and strain into a glass.
Jack Rose
A popular choice in the 1920s and 30s the Jack Rose makes a cameo in Ernest Hemingway’s 1926 classic The Sun Also Rises as the narrator’s drink of choice.
• 50ml apple brandy or Calvados
• 1 teaspoon grenadine
• juice of half a lemon or lime
Shake all the ingredients together with ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon twist.
Old-Fashioned
Also now made famous as Don Draper’s tipple of choice in Mad Men, this cocktail came into creation around 1900 and even has a song in its honour – Cole Porter’s “Make It Another Old-Fashioned, Please”.
• 50ml bourbon
• dash Angostura bitters
• 1 sugar cube
• soda water
Place a sugar cube in an old-fashioned glass and pour over the bitters. Add soda to cover the cube and crush it, before adding the bourbon, and topping up with soda. Stir and garnish with a slice of orange, a maraschino cherry and a twist of lemon in the drink.
Stinger
Created by legendary 20s and 30s American bartender Patrick Duffy, this was usually served straight-up in pre-Prohibition days, though most people would request it on the rocks now.
• 50ml brandy
• 20ml white crème de menthe
Pour the brandy and crème de menthe over ice, stir, and serve with a stirrer and a glass of ice water on the side!
Mimosa
A slight variation on Buck’s Fizz, this classic cocktail is named after the tropical flowering shrub.
• 50ml fresh orange juice
• 2 dashes Grand Marnier
• champagne
Pour in the orange juice, followed by the Grand Marnier, then top up with champagne.
Win a pair of tickets to the UK premiere of Water for Elephants!
Held at London’s Westfield shopping centre on May 3rd, the Water for Elephants premiere promises to be one of the hottest red carpets of the year with stars Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon both in attendance – and you could be right there with them!
To be with a chance to win, just tweet your answer to the following question to @companymagazine with the hashtag #waterforelephantscomp
What is the main spirit in an Old-Fashioned?
• Bourbon
• Vodka
• Brandy
You must be able to attend Westfield London by 6.30pm for the premiere on May 3rd Travel and accommodation not included. Competition closes at 5.30pm on Wednesday 27th April 2011.
The best known of the ‘Fizz’ family of cocktails, this still-popular creation has been a hit since the turn of the 20th century.
• 50ml Gin
• Juice of half a lemon
• 10ml “gomme” sugar syrup (or 1 tsp sugar)
• Soda water
Pour gin, lemon juice and gomme syrup over ice and shake. Strain into a glass and top up with soda water.
BentleyJust like the classic car, this is a stylish classic cocktail from the 1920s.
• 50ml applejack brandy
• 50ml Dubonnet
Pour the brandy and Dubonnet over ice, stir, then strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with a twist of orange.
Between the Sheets
A fruity and seductive 1930s creation!
• 30ml brandy
• 30ml Cointreau
• 30ml light rum
• dash fresh lemon juice
Pour all ingredients into a shaker with ice, shake, and strain into a glass.
Jack RoseA popular choice in the 1920s and 30s the Jack Rose makes a cameo in Ernest Hemingway’s 1926 classic The Sun Also Rises as the narrator’s drink of choice.
• 50ml apple brandy or Calvados
• 1 teaspoon grenadine
• juice of half a lemon or lime
Shake all the ingredients together with ice, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish with a lemon twist.
Old-FashionedAlso now made famous as Don Draper’s tipple of choice in Mad Men, this cocktail came into creation around 1900 and even has a song in its honour – Cole Porter’s “Make It Another Old-Fashioned, Please”.
• 50ml bourbon
• dash Angostura bitters
• 1 sugar cube
• soda water
Place a sugar cube in an old-fashioned glass and pour over the bitters. Add soda to cover the cube and crush it, before adding the bourbon, and topping up with soda. Stir and garnish with a slice of orange, a maraschino cherry and a twist of lemon in the drink.
StingerCreated by legendary 20s and 30s American bartender Patrick Duffy, this was usually served straight-up in pre-Prohibition days, though most people would request it on the rocks now.
• 50ml brandy
• 20ml white crème de menthe
Pour the brandy and crème de menthe over ice, stir, and serve with a stirrer and a glass of ice water on the side!
Mimosa
A slight variation on Buck’s Fizz, this classic cocktail is named after the tropical flowering shrub.
• 50ml fresh orange juice
• 2 dashes Grand Marnier
• champagne
Pour in the orange juice, followed by the Grand Marnier, then top up with champagne.
Win a pair of tickets to the UK premiere of Water for Elephants!
Held at London’s Westfield shopping centre on May 3rd, the Water for Elephants premiere promises to be one of the hottest red carpets of the year with stars Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon both in attendance – and you could be right there with them!
To be with a chance to win, just tweet your answer to the following question to @companymagazine with the hashtag #waterforelephantscomp
What is the main spirit in an Old-Fashioned?• Bourbon
• Vodka
• Brandy
You must be able to attend Westfield London by 6.30pm for the premiere on May 3rd Travel and accommodation not included. Competition closes at 5.30pm on Wednesday 27th April 2011.
