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Silver Screen Sips: Famous Cocktails and Drinks in Movies

Cocktails are the stars of these films.

By Sahara Borja
The Big Lebowski: White Russian
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The actors and actresses aren't the only stars in these movies. Some films put cocktails, mixed drinks, and other alcoholic beverages in the spotlight. From The Big Lebowski's White Russian to Silence of the Lamb's Chianti, we're taking a look of some of the famous beverages that have appeared in blockbusters from Hollywood.Love reminiscing? Check out some of our favorite food moments in film.

1

The Big Lebowski: White Russian

The Big Lebowski: White Russian
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In the late '90s, The Big Lebowski, starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, and Steve Buscemi, became an instant cult classic. "The Dude," Jeff Bridges' character, was defined by his shaggy sweater, long locks, dark sunglasses, and strong preference for White Russians, a velvety cocktail typically made with a coffee liqueur, milk, and vodka. If he wasn't drinking one, he was carrying one, finishing one, or finding ways to make one in other peoples' houses. Sounds easy enough — try one at home! (Shades optional.)

Recipe: White Russian

2

The Blues Brothers: Orange Whip

Blues Brother
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"Three Orange Whips!" declares John Candy's character in the famous film The Blues Brothers, right before the major fund-raising scene. Following its film debut, the cocktail — rum and vodka mixed with cream and orange juice — experienced a huge resurgence in popularity. Hey, if the brothers blue think it's cool, we can't argue with that.

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3

Bonfire of the Vanities: Sidecar

Bonfire of the Vanities: Sidecar
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A classy drink for a classy film! In the movie, a character who isn't supposed to drink finds himself at a meeting with Bruce Willis' character, Peter Fallow. In the absence of his wife, who would never let him drink, the man orders a Sidecar. The classic cocktail, which contains cognac, orange liqueur (Cointreau, Grand Marnier, or another triple sec), and lemon juice, is still very popular today.

Recipe: Fig Sidecar

4

Bridget Jones's Diary: Chardonnay

Bridget Jones
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Bridget Jones, that lovable, bright, vulnerable character from the popular books and films that share her name, always had a penchant for liquor. At one point in the first film Jones declares triumphantly that she's going to soothe a broken heart with Chaka Khan and...vodka! Jones's later choice is a crisp white wine — a chardonnay — proving she's a lady after all.

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5

Casablanca: French 75

Casablanca
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Three parts signature bite, one part sugar, this drink is bittersweet — just like the ending of the classic film. Named for a French field artillery gun used in World War I, this cocktail is all attitude. Think this is your cocktail of choice? "Here's looking at you, kid!"

Recipe: French 75

6

Casino Royale: Vodka "Vesper" Martini

Casino Royal: Vodka Vesper Martini
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You might not engage in international espionage in a suit like 007 or have a martini named after you like Casino Royale's leading lady, but you can share in their sophisticated taste by sipping this drink. Go easy, though; the one-two punch of vodka and gin may leave you feeling "shaken, not stirred."

Recipes: Martini Recipes

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7

Cocktail: The Red Eye

Cocktail: Red Eye
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Not a lot of things were cooler than Tom Cruise in the '80s, right? In Cocktail, a young Cruise flipped and flung shot glasses and bottles into the air, impressing women right and left. One drink, however, was more practical than flashy. The "Red Eye," a purported hangover cure-all, is a mix of Lager, tomato juice, and egg. If that's not appetizing, you may just want to stick with coffee.

8

Groundhog Day: Sweet Vermouth on the Rocks with a Twist

Groundhog Day: Sweet Vermouth on the Rocks with a Twist
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You can enjoy vermouth as an apéritif (an alcoholic drink served with a meal to stimulate appetite), mixed in various cocktails, cooked with fish, or as a meat marinade. Unlike Phil Connors, who had to take his the same way every day, you can try all of vermouth's possibilities. Whether you love it like Rita or hate it like Phil, remember to keep track of how many you've had since you (unlike Phil) can't escape tomorrow's headache.

Recipes: Dishes Using Vermouth

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9

Practical Magic: Midnight Margaritas

Practical Magic: "Midnight Margaritas"
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After several Midnight Margaritas, you might dance around the house like the wonderfully wacky Owens family witches in Practical Magic. All you need for a night of magic (minus the mayhem) is quality tequila, company, and tunes.

Recipes: Twists On the Classic Margarita

10

Sex and the City: Cosmopolitans

Sex and the City: Cosmopolitan
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So many drinks were consumed during Sex and the City's run on TV and the big screen. The long-running show charted the four main characters' experiences trying almost every trend in drink, dining, fashion, and men. Yet one constant remained: the cosmos.

Recipes: Cosmopolitans

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11

Silence of the Lambs: Chianti

Silence of the Lambs
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There are so many quotable lines from the brilliantly frightening Silence of the Lambs, which starred a brave Jodie Foster alongside genius actor Sir Anthony Hopkins. Anyone who has seen the film recalls the line about "fava beans and a nice Chianti." (Cue the chills.)

12

Some Like it Hot: Manhattan

Some Like it Hot
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Sure, men have cross-dressed in newer movies than Some Like it Hot, but those films don't have mobsters, jazz music, and Marilyn Monroe. This heady mixture can only be matched by the film's standout drink, the Manhattan, with its equally stiff combination of sweet vermouth, whiskey, and bitters. Top it off with a maraschino cherry for the ultimate unisex cocktail.

Recipe: Manhattan

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13

Lost in Translation: Suntory Whiskey

Lost in Translation: Suntory Whiskey
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What time is it? "Suntory Whiskey time," declares a mildly depressed Bob Harris (played by Bill Murray) in Sophia Coppola's Lost in Translation. Harris spends a few hilarious moments doing a commercial spot for "Suntory Whiskey" during his stay at a quirky Japanese hotel. Sullen and sensitive, the gentleman seeks comfort — in the form of whiskey — at the bar while suffering from a bout of insomnia. Luckily, he meets a girl who also suffers from lack of sleep. Cheers!

Recipe: Drinks and Dishes Using Whiskey

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