We all like a good Netflix binge, and with the way the world’s been, people have come up with ways to spice up what can become a mundane existence. While by no means new, one of those things is pairing your drinks with your favorite television shows. The best (and most creative) way to do this is to get into the mind(s) of some of our favorite dramas. Below, we’ve listed five of the best shows of 2020 (so far) and matched them with some of our favorite drinks. Some classic, some new (Tiger King-themed drink, anyone?) Get ready to flex those mixologist’s muscles!
Tiger King and a Spiced Exotic Apricot Bourbon:
This drink was whipped up by Dan Magro for My Recipes.com. And quite honestly, if you haven’t seen Tiger King on Netflix yet, what are you even doing with your life? Still, maybe that’s a good thing, because before you can go recline into your favorite chair and hit play on the show that just keeps everyone going: What in the actual heck is going on here? you might want to head to the kitchen and prepare this delicious bourbon treat first.
Ingredients:
-Bourbon, two ounces
-One tablespoon of sliced apricots
-About one ounce of fresh lemon juice
-One white
-Cinnamon
Directions:
-Combine lemon juice, egg white, bourbon, and apricots in a shaker. Shake generously so that the egg white properly dissolves into the other ingredients.
-Then add ice to the concoction, shaking as much as you can again so that the mixture chills.
-Strain into a glass, there should be two layers.
-Optional: using a tiger stripe stencil, use the cinnamon to create a tiger print for dramatic effect.
-Enjoy!
Dead to Me Goes Nice with A Red Queen:
There’s nothing that makes more sense in the universe than this lovely pairing. If you love this show, there’s no denying suburban mom Jen’s obsession with rose wine in this dark comedy. However, this glorious little gem of a cocktail give’s Jen’s favorite beverage a new bite by adding bourbon to the mix. While it’s been labeled a “winter” drink, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy this in the summer as well. (Jen doesn’t follow the rules, and neither should you.)
Ingredients:
-Red Wine (about three ounces)
-Bourbon (about one ounce)
-Fresh lemon juice
-simple syrup
-Amaro Braulio liquor (half an ounce)
-Optional: Garnish with fresh lemon slices, sage, rosemary, and thyme
Directions:
–Make the simple syrup first: mix one cup of pure sugar and one cup of filtered water in a pan. On low heat, stir until the sugar completely dissolves. Remove from heat and allow the simple syrup to cool off.
-In a cocktail shaker, combine bourbon, wine, lemon juice, ice, and simple syrup. Shake vigorously.
-Strain into a glass over crushed ice.
-If you like, garnish with fresh slices of lemon, sage, rosemary, and thyme.
Babylon Berlin and A Bees-Knees:
Babylon Berlin is a hot Jazz-Baby picking up the pieces where Boardwalk Empire left us…wanting more of the gin-fueled cabarets and supper clubs that were oh-so-taboo at the time.
Taking place during the Weimar period of Germany; a theatrical, artistic, yet gloomy time in the country’s history before fascism comes (literally) marching through, nothing pairs sweeter than a prohibition-era beverage. There’s so many to choose from, but there’s something about gin that is absolutely the bees-knees.
Ingredients:
-One and a half ounces of gin
-One teaspoon of honey
-One teaspoon of lemon juice
-Optional: Lemon slices for garnish
Directions:
-Place all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake generously.
-Strain and serve into a chilled coupe martini glass
The Good Place With a Dos-A-Rita:
Since Eleanor Shellstrop’s life got cut short because she stopped in the middle of the road to pick up her frozen margarita mix, we can’t imagine sipping on anything else while watching this metaphysical comedy unfold. Well, except maybe this concoction by dos Equis, also known as the Dos-A-Rita. A perfect frozen summer treat that’s worth mixing up. Be sure to check out the other cocktail recipes that dos Equis has in store.
Ingredients:
-Margarita salt
-Dos Equis Lager
-White tequila, two ounces
-One and ¼ ounce of fresh lime juice
-One and ¼ ounce of agave syrup
-Optional: chili tincture for taste
Directions:
-In a blender, combine lime juice, tequila, and ice
-Blend ingredients
-Cover rim of the serving glass with margarita salt
-Serve and enjoy!
The Great Cosmopolitan:
The Great is a fantastical dramedy highlighting the journey of a young Catherine the Great (who has not yet become “Great”) from German princess to Russian Empress. The show is great fun, making a mockery of court life and those within it. Little does anyone predict that the Emperor’s new bride, naive as she may seem, is destined to usher in a whole new era. A cosmopolitan, though made famous by HBO’s Sex and the City, makes for a wonderful cocktail as we watch Catherine plot to dethrone her spoilt husband and place herself as sole ruler on the Russian throne. Solidifying her place in the pages of history and as an icon of female empowerment.
Ingredients:
-Two tablespoons of pure citron vodka
-Two tablespoons of organic cranberry juice
–One tablespoon of fresh lemon or lime juice
-Sliced lime or lemon
-One teaspoon of organic maple syrup
Directions:
–In a cocktail shaker, place vodka, cranberry juice, maple syrup, ice, and lemon juice.
-Shake generously for ten to fifteen minutes.
–Strain into chilled martini glasses
-If you like, garnish with lemon or lime wedge
-Enjoy!
Those are just a few exciting ideas to keep in mind while you’re binging your favorite shows this year. So break out your cocktail shaker, mix it up, enjoy!
