SPOILER FREE ZONE!
‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ is released today (23rd December) on Netflix. As big fans of the original ‘Knives Out’, Mrs. B and I watched it at the cinema last month and I was struck by how many drinks there are in the film. Don’t worry, no crucial plot points are revealed in this post – this is a spoiler-free zone – but this little guide will hopefully help you get in some supplies before watching the film (which is on a par to the original, if not better) so that you can have a more immersive experience.
Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig)
One of Benoit’s guilty pleasures is a pastis & water whilst enjoying a soak in the bath; his brand of choice is Ricard, but other popular brands include Pernod and, my personal favourite, Pastis 51.
Pastis is a French spirit that is flavoured with anise; it became popular after the spurious French ban on absinthe. It is prepared by mixing it with water so that it goes milky or cloudy – technically known as “louching”.
The spirit has a strong anise flavour and a slightly oily texture; it’s good as an aperitif and would certainly hold out (flavour-wise) to the intensity of Blanc’s cigars.
Another drink that pops up throughout the film is the fictional “Jared Leto’s Hard Kombucha”. Kombucha is a lightly alcoholic fermented tea, usually around 3% ABV, that is often presented as having a number of health benefits. Glass Onion’s fictional version is particularly alcoholic at 9% ABV and is drunk by most of the characters at some point, but, in addition, each of them have their own favourite tipple(s) (mostly consisting of brands owned by Diageo), which are showcased throughout the film:
Miles Bron (Edward Norton) – Bulleit Bourbon on the Rocks
Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson) – Cuban Breeze
The Cuban Breeze is a fun and fruity cocktail; you can adjust the amount of lime juice to tailor it to your preferred level of sweetness.
[25ml Vodka, 25ml Amaretto, 75ml Pineapple Juice, 5-10ml Fresh Lime Juice]
Add the ingredients to an ice-filled glass and stir gently, before garnishing with fresh mint and a straw.
The drink is very fruity and succulent with just enough sourness to balance out the sweet nuttiness of the amaretto: very quaffable and could easily creep up on you, booze-wise.
Duke Cody (Dave Bautista) – Bulleit Bourbon on the Rocks
Andi Brand (Janelle Monáe) – Whiskey & Soda
The specific whisky used is not named, but Andi’s drink is served with ice in a tumbler. The subtitles spell it “whiskey”, but I don’t think we can read too much into that. My guess is that it’d be something like Johnnie Walker (fitting with the representation of the Diageo portfolio in the film), most likely Johnnie Walker Black label.
Claire Debella (Kathryn Hahn) – Room Temperature White Wine (Pinot Gris)
I’m not sure what to make of this one: personally, I like my white wine cold and refreshing! At room temperature, my Pinot Grigio was okay, but I couldn’t help but feel like I was somewhere where my host had simply neglected to chill the wine. I feel myself (philistine as I may be) reaching for the ice bucket in order to finish the glass….
Lionel Toussaint (Leslie Odom Jr.) – Lagavulin 16
A classic Islay single malt scotch with a lovely, strong, smokey character, this is a firm favourite of other fictional characters such as Ron Swanson (as well as myself!). Although, I have to say, I can’t see myself polishing off a whole bottle – or even half of one by myself – in an evening!
Peg (Jessica Henwick) – Ketel One Vodka (specifically from a Red Solo Cup or the bottle)
Whiskey (Madelyn Cline) – Don Julio Tequila
Derol (Noah Segan) – White Russian (Ketel One and Kahlua) and Corona Beer
Summer Fruit Cup 