It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere, Bookworms!
Yesterday as I was making my rounds about the blogosphere, I was inspired by this post at Bitches with Books. Quirky taste tested a cocktail designed in honor of a book. That got me to thinking… Which libations belong with which books? Without further ado, I give you my top ten classic book and beverage pairings!
1. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy: White Russian.
A White Russian is vodka, coffee liqueur, and cream. The origin of the drink is not, in fact, Russian, but vodka is. It was either a White Russian or room temperature vodka (for authenticity’s sake.) I went for tasty. Sue me.
Okay. I’ll be honest. I didn’t have the ingredients for a White Russian, but I still wanted a photo. That’s skim milk over ice. It’s a work night!
2. Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery: Currant Wine.
Who DOESN’T crack up when Anne gets Diana drunk by accident on what she thinks is raspberry cordial? It’s all kinds of fantastic. I have no idea where one can procure currant wine, so… Boone’s Farm in a pinch, yes? (I am so trashy.)
3. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens: Martini optional. Garnishes necessary.
C’mon Dickens! You made it too easy. For heaven’s sake his name sounds like a bartender asking a question! “Olive or Twist?” Sigh. Puns are so much FUN!
4. Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell: Southern Comfort Old Fashioned
Is there a single character in this book who doesn’t long for the comfort of old times in the South?! Hello, perfect name. Nice to see you again.
5. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: Tea. Just tea.
It’s unseemly for a lady to imbibe.
The Misses Bennett were nothing if not ladies. Well. Except Lydia.
6. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov: Shirley Temple
Yes, I went there. The reason every kid likes weddings. The classic 7 up, grenadine, and maraschino cherries, also known as a “kiddie cocktail” is the perfect accompaniment to this perverse tale.
7. Moby Dick by Herman Melville: Dark & Stormy
A Dark & Stormy is essentially ginger ale and rum. It’s super appropriate for the book, because ginger ale is soothing to a seasick stomach. Also, sailors. Rum. It’s a thing. Queequeg would be down with this drink.
8. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll: Absinthe. In a tea cup.
Absinthe is a highly alcoholic anise flavored green beverage. It’s psycho-addictive properties are highly exaggerated, but a few sips and you’re sure to be as Mad as the Hatter.
Curiouser and curiouser…
9. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: Long Island Iced Tea.
The book is set on Long Island. During Prohibition. Which made people want to be very very drunk all the time. I’ve always thought that this drink must have been invented by adventurous drunks pouring everything in their cabinets into one glass and hoping for the best…
10. Silas Marner by George Eliot: Goldschlager.
Silas loved his gold. Goldschlager has gold in it. A little obvious, but amusing nonetheless.
So there you have it, Bookworms. My list of classic books with their classic cocktail pairings. Anybody have anything they’d care to add to the list?
Daddio
Golden Cadillac
1 oz Galliano® herbal liqueur
2 oz white creme de cacao
1 oz light cream
Combine all ingredients with 1/2 cup crushed ice in an electric blender. Blend at low speed for ten seconds. Strain into a champagne flute and serve.
Words for Worms
What book does your Golden Cadillac go with? Silas Marner, because of the Gold? Or something car-ish?
Rhian
Christine by Stephen King?
Words for Worms
Good call, Rhian. I haven’t read it, because, SCARY, and I’d never drive again. But it would work with my Dad’s cocktail option.
Sarah Says Read
Mmmmm White Russians. I miss them.
I need to start pairing drinks with books! Would give me a good excuse to drink, anyways 🙂
Words for Worms
Excellent idea. Just make sure they’re entertaining books. Booze ups the sleepy factor, so I don’t recommend drinking more than one White Russian while attempting Tolstoy, because he’s sleep inducing on his own
Karen H
“From Here to Eternity” by James Jones – Sex on the Beach
“Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley – Bloody Mary
Words for Worms
Good call on From Here to Eternity! I’m picturing the movie scene now and cracking up!
Jayne
What a fun game! Your list is spot-on!
My suggestions…
Dracula by Bram Stoker – Bloody Mary
Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne – Red-Headed Slut
Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas – Sweet Revenge
http://www.liquorama.net/sweet-revenge-wild-strawberry-sour-mash-liqueur-750ml.html (I have to admit, Google helped me with that one)
Words for Worms
I had The Scarlet Letter and Red Headed Slut in this post but took it out. I was afraid I’d get flamed for slut shaming or something. I applaud you though. Bravo!
Jayne
I ain’t skeered 🙂
Ilene (BinkyBecky)
I love your daring suggestions Jayne!
Words for Worms
Jayne wins the bravery award for sure!
didibooksenglish
Love this post! The Fountainhead – whiskey on the rocks. You’ll have to drink damn near 3 of them to get through it.
Words for Worms
LOL
Ilene (BinkyBecky)
Cheeky & Snarky – I love it! I think it would make a great book club night to feature all of those drinks (oh, and the books too). – Ilene
Words for Worms
Thank you! I adore being called “cheeky.”
Kelly
Well I think it’s safe to say that the Screaming Orgasm goes to Fifty Shades.
Words for Worms
Well played, Kelly. Well played.
daddio
I figured the Golden Cadillac was a good Silas Marner ‘gold’ reference. Then again the very obvious Cosmopolitan goes with Sex and the City. Or a nice Mint Julip to go with National Velvet.
Words for Worms
Hahahahaha Dad! Seriously, you crack me up. You referenced SATC. I just don’t know what to do with you!
Sami
I love how your dad was the first one to chime in on the drink suggestionsand give us the recipe..as well as the fact that he made a Sex and the City reference…
Lord of the Rings: Red Eye
The Help: Mississippi Mule
Interview with a Vampire: Tequila Sunrise
Words for Worms
Hahahaha I know! My Dad is nuts! #1 fan right there. Nice cocktail choices! That makes me think! For LOTR: Whiskey Sauron
Sami
Nice – maybe next time we should make up NEW drink names like…50 shades of Grey Goose
Words for Worms
YES! Next time I’ll make up the cocktails! I’m open to suggestions, and I LOVE the 50 Shades of Grey Goose. Brilliant.
JoulesDellinger
Okay and now I want a Shirley Temple…but with some kind of liquor in it. And fun fact, Red Headed Sluts used to be my shot that I would order when I was younger (aka, went out to actual bars). They were fun to say AND fun to drink.
Um, sorry I don’t really have much to add to this comment…
Words for Worms
Hahahaha I can totally picture you ordering that. You’re saucy!
Lyssapants
I’ve accidentally found myself three sheets to the wind after a white russian….on a worknight, no less.
Words for Worms
Classy. The tasty drinks are the ones that sneak up on you!
Lyssapants
Srsly.
therelentlessreader
Mmmm. I don’t know if I want to go read a good book or just get trashed. Both!
Words for Worms
Both! YES!
April
YES!!! “Olive or Twist” too funny! I just read that to my husband and we both LOVE it! My hubs is a martini man all the way, and our son Oliver well.. and bet your ass Olive-r twist is going to stick with him now! well played. Oh, and the Alice in Absinthe land is just a clear sigh of your brilliance!
Words for Worms
You know, I wish I could claim complete ownership of that. I was all like “hahahahaha martini garnishes” and then my pal Chrissy was like “There’s totally a martini bar named Olive or Twist.” So. I’m only like medium brilliant.
Rick Wiedeman
The Odyssey: A drink for every island. Example: The Lotus Eaters, Absinthe. Revenge on the Suitors: Bloody Mary. 🙂
Words for Worms
Clever!
roshniaamom
LOL!!! Must re-read all these drinks….I mean, books!! ahahahah!!!
Words for Worms
High School reading assignments would be tolerated much better if they’d allow you to have the coordinating cocktail, don’t you think?
Roshni
Hi! Just wanted to let you know that, for what it’s worth, I featured this post in my blog here: http://www.bigaandlittlea.com/2013/03/what-ive-been-reading-this-week-23.html
Words for Worms
Thank you so much!!! How sweet of you! I’m going to check this out right now!
Monika
Fun post!
I tried a Tom Collins for the first time because of Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84. 🙂
Words for Worms
I’ve never had a Tom Collins. It makes me think of RENT. I should try one sometime…
Rory
So sad that I missed this one the first time around, I don’t know if I had blog-met you yet. Fabulous post. I LOVE the Shirley Temple one – inspired choice.
Words for Worms
Thank you my dear! No, I don’t think we’d blog met when I wrote this, but we’ve remedied that effectively I think 🙂
Isi
wow I don’t know any of these cocktails, but I think that it is a great idea to put together a book and its one and only drink 😀
AhDee
“8. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll: Absinthe. In a tea cup.”
This was great.
In a tea cup, that’s a must.
Words For Worms
🙂 Thanks! It seemed most appropriate.