Thanks to Netflix, staying in and cozying up to watch a whole season of your favourite show can be as tempting as going out. For over 300 thousand subscribers in Ireland, chilling at home and binge-watching well written political dramas, smart comedies or anything in between has gone from guilty to mainstream pleasure, and speaking of such, why not indulge your other senses while the audiovisual part is taken care by the shows?
For this purpose, we were inspired by the new cocktail menu from The Dean Lobby Bar and we’ve paired a few of our favourite shows with their luscious drinks. You can prepare these at home and make an evening out of your serial streaming, but if you happen to be staying at The Dean Hotel, be aware that there is in-room Netflix on all of their Samsung Smart TVs in its 52 bedrooms.
So, dress up in your best PJs, grab your mobile/remote in one hand and leave the other one free for one of these delightful cocktails!
Frank Underwood is not just thirsty for power, the ambitious politician knows his fine Bourbon and has been seen pouring lowball glasses of single barrel Blanton’s on a few occasions. When he’s not busy enjoying Kentucky’s finest or climbing his way up, you’ll find him at Freddy’s BBQ Joint, a place that will open at any time of the day if he feels like having their juicy pork ribs. So, make this classic cocktail and bring home some meaty ribs to go with it… You’ll get all the votes when choosing what to watch next.
Ingredients:
– 4.5 cl Bulliet Bourbon
– 2 dashes sugar Syrup
– 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
– Orange twist
– Ice cubes
Glass: lowball (a.k.a. Old Fashioned glass)
Method:
1. Pour the sugar syrup at the bottom of the glass.
2. Add the 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters.
3. Fill the glass with ice cubes
4. Add the Bourbon.
5. Garnish with the orange twist
While some fans of the series will understand why a Screwdriver would be a valid match, this eccentric dark comedy calls for something a bit less mainstream. Worry not because you won’t have to settle for Poussey’s prison hooch (although the ladies in the minimum security jail can’t seem to get enough of it!), instead, we’ll stay out from the cat fights but stick around to hear the meow with this cocktail that is just like the series’ main character Piper Chapman: sweet at the start, then a bit on the wild side and definitely, not innocent.
Ingredients:
– 4,5 cl Jameson Black Barrel Whiskey
– 3 cl Olmeca Chocolate Liqueur
– 3 cl Homemade Peanut Butter Syrup (*)
– 9 cl Half & half cream
– Ice cubes
– Pinch of ground cinnamon
Glass: lowball
Method:
1. Pour the whiskey and the chocolate liqueur on the glass.
2. Add the Peanut butter syrup.
3. Fill the glass with ice cubes.
4. Add the half & half
5. Sprinkle the cinnamon on top.
(*) For the syrup, microwave and mix 1 part peanut butter and 1 part honey.
We are going full hipster for this one so get on your high wheel bike and run to your favourite independently-owned shop to get what you need. Followers of the quirky cult comedy that makes light of the vintage lovers, vinyl players, home roasted coffee drinkers from Portland, Oregon (“where the young go to retire”, according to the show’s tagline) will get inspiration from the city’s best mixologist, hilariously played by Andy Samberg, and enjoy a drink that blends the exotic with the trendy. Yes, rum, Guinness and sherry make the core of it so just embrace the weirdness and enjoy.
Ingredients:
– 4,5 cl Havana 7 Year Rum
– 3 cl Pedro Ximénez Sherry
– 3 cl cold brew coffee
– 3 cl Guinness
– Splash of caramel
– Dash of chocolate Bitters
– Cocoa powder
– Coffee beans
Glass: Champagne coupe
Method:
1. Mix the rum, the sherry, the coffee and the Guinness in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain over the glass.
2. Add a splash of caramel (if too thick, melt it in the microwave first).
3. Add the dash of chocolate bitters.
4. Sprinkle the cocoa powder and garnish with two or three coffee beans.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary private detective Sherlock Holmes gets a modern-day setting in this adaptation where he deciphers London’s ravels thanks to his wittiness and remarkably high observation skills. A sharp drink to toast to a sharp man, with mint and lime to honour the refreshing twist of this award-wining version, Beefeater Gin to reflect the Britishness of it all and, if you feel like it, a splash of Bénédictine liqueur as a nod to the star’s name, Benedict Cumberbatch.
Ingredients:
– 6 cl Beefeater Gin
– Splash of Bénédictine (optional)
– 1 Egg White
– 3 cl fresh lime juice
– Dash of honey
– Ice cubes
– Soda (enough to fill the glass)
– Fresh mint leaves
– Lime twist
Glass: Highball
Method:
1. Mix the gin, Bénédictine, egg white, lime juice and honey in a cocktail shaker with the ice cubes.
2. Pour (including the ice cubes) over the glass.
3. Top the glass with soda.
4. Garnish with fresh mint leaves and the lime twist.
Gabriela’s passion for writing is only matched by her love for food and wine. Journalist, confectioner and sommelier, she fell in love with Ireland years ago and moved from Venezuela to Dublin in 2014.
Since then, she has written about and worked in the local food scene, and she’s determined to discover and share the different traditions, flavours and places that have led Irish food and drink to fascinate her.
Gabriela Guédez Gabriela Guédez
