575 Inspired by “Midnight in Paris”
From: Daniel (60 E. 65th St.; 212-288-0033)
This vodka- and pear-based concoction is ideal for sipping while being transported back to the booze-soaked days of Hemingway and Fitzgerald. “The Chartreuse is like its own character,” says bartender Arnaud Dissais, “and the shiso [Japanese mint] brings the freshness to the cocktail.”
Recipe: In a shaker top, muddle ½ oz. lemon juice, 1 tsp. sugar and 2 shiso leaves. Add 2 oz. vodka, ¼ oz. yellow Chartreuse, 1 oz. Asian pear juice, ¼ oz. simple syrup and ice. Shake and double strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with 6 micro-shiso leaves.
Astrid Stawiarz
2 of 9
White Cosmopolitan Inspired by “Hugo”
From: Daniel
Just like the mysterious family flick, this spin on the Cosmo takes on a third dimension, thanks to an ice ball with a frozen orchid in its center. “We balance the sweetness with the lime juice,” says Dissais.
Recipe: In a shaker, combine 2 oz. Stolichnaya vodka, 1 oz. St.-Germain elderflower liqueur, ¾ oz. white cranberry juice and ½ oz. lime juice with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a carafe. Place orchid ice ball in a martini glass. When ready to serve, pour contents of carafe over ice ball.
Astrid Stawiarz
3 of 9
French 65 Inspired by “The Artist”
From: Daniel
A play on the French 75, the Cointreau allows aromas to shine when mixed with the Champagne. The extra sparkle makes it a perfect match for the silent film about glitzy Hollywood. “It’s very elegant,” says Dissais.
Recipe: In a mixing glass, combine 3 oz. Cointreau and 6 drops Angostura bitters with ice and stir. Strain into a frozen Champagne glass, add 3 oz. Champagne and spritz with an orange twist.
Astrid Stawiarz
4 of 9
Skeeter Inspired by “The Help”
From: Maison Premiere (298 Bedford Ave., Williamsburg; 347-335-0446)
For a Southern-inspired cocktail, try this variation of Maison Premiere’s “Old Hickory,” a staple of Deep South bars. Named after Andrew Jackson, an Old Hickory uses vermouth, but this Skeeter update replaces it with sherry. “For this one, we use a very dry Oloroso sherry and Pedro Ximenez, a very sweet sherry,” says Maxwell Britten, beverage director.
Recipe: Combine 1½ oz. Oloroso sherry, 1½ oz. Pedro Ximenez, 4 dashes Peychaud’s, 4 dashes orange bitters, into a rocks glass. Add ice, stir for 30 seconds, garnish with an orange twist.
Gabi Porter
5 of 9
The Joey Inspired by “War Horse”
From: Maison Premiere
This classic vintage cocktail — a blend of scotch and Hendrick’s Gin — was a staple during World War I, the setting of the film. “This is one of those cocktails you’d find in older bartender books from the ’20s through the ’50s,” says Britten.
Recipe: Combine ½ oz. blended Scotch, ½ oz. Hendrick’s, ½ oz. apricot Eau de Vie, 2 drops orange flower water, add ice, stir for 30 seconds, strain and garnish with brandied cherry.
Gabi Porter
6 of 9
Élan Royale Inspired by “The Tree of Life”
From: Maison Premiere
This boozy, bubbly-based drink is sweetened with a sugar cube soaked in aromatic bitters, but gets its green “tree” tint from Chartreuse. “I’m a huge fan of real Champagne, and the Academy Awards is one thing that calls for Champagne,” says Britten.
Recipe: Chill ¾ oz. green Chartreuse, pour into flute. Top with Champagne. (Splurge on the real stuff.) Add 1 sugar cube soaked in orange bitters. Garnish with an orange twist.
Gabi Porter
7 of 9
Trader Vic’s Descendant Inspired by “The Descendants”
From: Hudson Bar (356 W. 58th St.; 212-554-6217)
This milder version of a mai tai will have you croonin’ for some Clooney on Hawaiian beaches. “It’s less potent. You can sip on it,” says senior bartender Chuck Husted.
Recipe: Combine 1½ oz. dark rum, ½ oz. orgeat liqueur, ½ oz. orange curacao, ½ oz. lime juice, ½ oz. hibiscus syrup in mixing tin, add ice, shake and strain over crushed ice.
Gabi Porter
8 of 9
The Billy Beane Inspired by “Moneyball”
From: Hudson Bar
Husted has played a lot of baseball, so he “looked at the way they [Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill in the film] picked their teams in a complex, mathematical way,” he says. “We tried to incorporate ingredients that have a lot of depth and complexity, like lemon verbena syrup and egg whites.”
Recipe: Combine 1 oz. gin, 1 oz. green Chartreuse, 1 oz. lemon verbena syrup, ½ oz. lemon juice, ½ oz. egg white and a dash of orange bitters to mixing tin, dry shake vigorously, add ice and shake until cold. Strain over ice.
Gabi Porter
9 of 9
New Manhattan Inspired by “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”
From: Hudson Bar
Bartender Husted upgraded a Manhattan in honor of this NYC-set film. “It’s going to be a little bit sweeter because of the aged rum, and you’ll be able to taste a hint of the ginger and a little bit of smoke from the aging process,” he says.
Recipe: Combine 2 oz. dark rum, ½ oz. ginger liqueur, ½ oz. sweet vermouth, a dash of Angostura bitters, and serve neat with lemon rind garnish.
Gabi Porter
