Federle - Gone with the gin: cocktails with a hollywood twist

Youve seen Star Wars so many times, youre basically half-Jedi. You love the smell of napalm in the morning, you see dead people, and youre the king (or queen!) of the world. Hell, you cant even walk past a box of chocolates without quoting Forrest Gump. Youve basically logged more hours at the local megaplex than the projectionistand you deserve a drink! But hold on, Butch Cassidy. A Diet Coke and Milk Duds isnt gonna cut it. Not tonight.

To give a red carpetworthy welcome to historys most famous films, weve meticulously mixed a mouthwatering assortment of tipsy tributes so diverse and wide-ranging, you could line the shelves of an abandoned Blockbuster with these drinkstwice. Included within are scholarly sips for cinephiles, if you willand the people who love them. From mixologists to moviegoers, welcome to Gone with the Gin: Cocktails with a Hollywood Twist. Please, find a seat on the aisle (preferably one with a cup holder) and silence your cell phones. No matter your cinematic stripe, theres a beverage (or ten) tailor-made just for you. For those morose moviegoers who never leave the house without Kleenex, get ready to cry-slash-chug your way through historys most delectable dramas.

From A Sidecar Named Desire to Ti-tonic , this section packs a major emotional picture punch. Craving something a tad bubblier? Turn to Youve Got Ale , Some Spike It Hot , or Monty Python and the Stoli Grail , if youd rather cackle than cry. We go from rom-com to rowdy in our silliest section. Perhaps youd prefer your sips chilling and your pics thrilling. Youre covered, too, with The French Concoction , The Moon-Shining , and a host of other devilish drinks that youll call scary-good. And if you like your cocktails sprinkled with song, Bloody Mary Poppins and Little Schnapps of Horrors will have you dancing out of your seatfor another round.

Not to worry, Trekkies over twenty-one: If your favorite thing on earth is to leave the planet, youll swear you were abducted after sampling our frothy fantasies and sip-worthy sci-fi section. ( Close Encounters of the Slurred Kind , anyone?) Of course, no trip to the movies would be complete without a stop at the concession stand! If your popcorns gone by the time previews are over, stay tuned for The Silence of the Lamb Burgers , The Breakfast Cereal Club , and a star-studded roster full of other movie munchies. For those viewers who cant tell their Dirty Harry from their dirty martini, first up is a breezy crash course on the tools, techniques, and terms used throughout this book. And on those nights when you and your friends finally pick a flick, shut down your devices and pull out our drinking gamesif, that is, youre brave enough to take a shot every time somebody says the f-word in Pulp Fiction. So go ahead, make my drink. Cocktail (or martini) glass (4 to 6 ounces): Drinks are shaken and strained into this iconic long-stemmed, V-shaped beauty. Collins glass (10 to 14 ounces): Best for very large, icy tropical drinks, a Collins glass is built like a highball glass, but taller and narrower. Copper mug (16 to 20 ounces): This traditional serving glass for the Moscow Mule is not essential to a well-stocked home bar, but is certainly a high-style addition. Flute (4 to 6 ounces): Champagne cocktails are served in this specially designed stemware, which showcases the bubbles without letting too many of them fly free. Highball glass (10 to 12 ounces): This one is midway between a rocks and a Collins glass, but taller than the former and shorter and fatter than the latter. Mason jar (1 cup to gallon): Though generally used for bottling preserves, this also makes a great container for casual drinks. Mug (10 to 12 ounces): The hardworking coffee cup does double-duty for hot alcoholic drinks. Pint glass (16 to 20 ounces): An all-purpose beer-chugger, this glass tapers at the bottom. Pint glass (16 to 20 ounces): An all-purpose beer-chugger, this glass tapers at the bottom.

Some have a bulb near the lip for a better grip. Rocks (or lowball or old-fashioned) glass (6 to 10 ounces): A drink poured on the rocksthats over ice, rookieis frequently served in one of these short, heavy tumblers. Shot glass ( to 2 ounces): For enjoying a variety of aptly named shots, this smallest of drinking vessels also comes in handy as a measuring device. Jigger: For small liquid measurements, this hourglass-shaped, metal tool is available in a variety of sizes. We prefer the 1-ounce-over-1-ounces modelbut do opt for a larger size if youre trying to get through