from The Spirit
The Black Swan Fittingly, we're turning to the classics to toast this classical ballet thriller. The White Russian is the perfect match: light battling dark with grace. Fully embrace your dark side by using a black vodka, such as Blavod. And if you'd like to break out the bubbly for this one, make sure to pour in some Guinness first to make a Black Velvet.
Yes, the obvious choice here is a punch. Better yet, make it a Bloody Rum Punch. Or you might want to put some weight behind it and throw down an Alambama Slammer. One-two, three or four, these are knockout drinks. Or if you're not one for fussing, just make it your best Irish.
What else has the mind-altering power to bend reality and invade your dreams? How about the infamous spirit absinthe? Don't let that "green fairy" fool you -- this is around 70 per cent proof and while it has been legal in the U.S. for the past few years, take this slow and go with the traditional sugar and cold-water drip. If you can't get hold of absinthe, try for Pernod and man up for a Big Barnacle Bill.
This may be a G-rated movie, but there are some very adult themes covered in this animated masterpiece! But if you need to keep your drinks as soft as the toys, mix up a mocktail. That's right, no alcohol, and a fruit-juice base. You could also try for healthier alternative, such as a coconut water cocktail. Oh alright, if you need a little something to get you through all those speeches, go for a Legal Shirley Temple.
OK, this one's too easy. Wild Turkey actually created a drink in honor of True Grit and Jeff Bridges' character, so why not take up the suggestion and rustle up The Rooster? The bourbon-based drink literally has that gritty edge: the glass is rimmed with salt. Or, if you want to spice things up, brace yourself for the Red Rooster Sour, which includes spicy mango chutney, chili salt and red pepper skin-soaked bitters.
We know you'll thank us for throwing you a bone and letting you know what this quiet achiever's about: a girl hunting down her drug-dealing dad through the Ozark Mountains to protect her family and save their home. Yes, this bleak tale might make you turn to drink. Set the scene with some Ragged Mountain Rum and then channel your own old man with some "old man classics" such as a Rusty Nail, Salty Dog or Boilermaker.
So this is a movie about artificial insemination, and what happens afterward. Can you blame us if the first cocktail-related thing that comes to mind is egg white? Yes, we're going there. It may be a controversial topic in some circles, as the movie's themes may also be, but there's no denying egg white in cocktails adds something special, a unique feel-good frothiness. And perhaps many moms might like to take the edge off while playing innocent, with a cocktail disguised as coffee or a milkshake.
No-one knows the pressure of making a great speech more than Oscar winners and this movie's subject. To show your support, you could follow the king's lead and opt for a restorative shot of whiskey (and a Hot Toddy can help to soothe sore throats and nerves). Or perhaps you'd like to plump for Pimm's, a quintessentially English drink, or take time for a civilized tea-based cocktail?
You might be wise to watch this with a bit of liquid courage in you. We'd like to raise a toast to the crazy-heroic mountain climber Aron Ralston. Lots of anything on the rocks makes for a suitable stiff drink.
Social networks are all about sharing (and oversharing), and what is easier to share than a pitcher drink or a bowl of punch? Also, like at school parties, spike the punch with enough booze and you may well end up off your face and on Facebook.
