Cocktails inspired by the movies

Jump to the White Russian recipe

Jump to the Orange Whip recipe

Jump to the French 75 recipe

Jump to the Red Eye recipe

Jump to the Cosmopolitan recipe

Jump to the Vesper Dry Martini recipe

Jump to the Singapore Sling recipe

Jump to the Gibson recipe

Jump to the Boulevardier recipe

Picture this: you’re hosting a movie night and want to pair your flick picks with show-stopping drinks. You’ve come to the right place—this listicle gathers 9 of the best cocktails recipes inspired by the movies, straight from makemeacocktail.com. From The Dude’s laid-back White Russian to Bond’s suave Vesper Martini, you’ll find easy-to-follow ingredients, step-by-step instructions, and fun film trivia. Let’s dive in and shake up some movie magic.

Mix a White Russian

This creamy cocktail rose to cult status thanks to The Big Lebowski’s “The Dude,” who sipped White Russians almost as casually as he uttered “The Dude abides.”

Ingredients

• 2 oz vodka

• 1 oz coffee liqueur (Kahlúa)

• 1 oz heavy cream or milk

• Ice cubes

Instructions

1. Fill an old-fashioned glass with ice.

2. Pour in vodka and coffee liqueur.

3. Gently float the cream on top by pouring over the back of a spoon.

4. Stir before each sip to blend the layers.

Pro tip

Swap the cream for almond or oat milk for a lighter, dairy-free tweak. Check the full White Russian recipe for more variations.

Whip up an Orange Whip

“Three Orange Whips!” became an instant catchphrase in The Blues Brothers. This frothy mix of rum, vodka, cream, and orange juice is nostalgia in a glass.

Ingredients

• 1 oz light rum

• 1 oz vodka

• 1 oz heavy cream

• 3 oz fresh orange juice

• Ice cubes

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to a blender.

2. Blend until smooth and frothy.

3. Pour into chilled highball glasses.

4. Garnish with an orange wheel or twist.

Pro tip

Use freshly squeezed juice for the brightest flavor. See the full Orange Whip recipe for garnish ideas.

Shake a French 75

This bubbly number stole the scene in Casablanca, named after a World War I field gun. Crisp, citrusy, and a bit bittersweet—just like the film’s finale.

Ingredients

• 1 oz gin (or cognac if you’re purist)

• ½ oz fresh lemon juice

• ½ oz simple syrup

• 3 oz Champagne or any dry sparkling wine

• Ice

Instructions

1. Combine gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a shaker with ice.

2. Shake vigorously for 10 seconds.

3. Strain into a chilled flute.

4. Top with Champagne.

Pro tip

Rim the glass with sugar for extra sparkle. For full details, head to the French 75 recipe.

Blend a Red Eye

Tom Cruise’s bar flair in Cocktail came with a hangover-curing “Red Eye.” It’s bold, it’s weird, but it gets you going—lager, tomato juice, vodka, and a raw egg. Dare to try?

Ingredients

• 1 oz vodka

• 4 oz tomato juice

• 2 oz lager beer

• 1 raw egg (yolk and white)

• Dash of hot sauce (optional)

• Pinch of salt and pepper

• Ice cubes

Instructions

1. Fill a pint glass with ice.

2. Add vodka, tomato juice, and lager.

3. Crack in the egg, then season.

4. Stir gently to combine.

Pro tip

Use pasteurized eggs if you’re wary. Explore the full Red Eye recipe before mixing.

Pour a Cosmopolitan

It doesn’t get more Sex and the City than a Cosmopolitan. This rosy cocktail helped redefine girly drinks—though we know any fan can appreciate its tangy balance.

Ingredients

• 1½ oz vodka

• 1 oz Cointreau (or triple sec)

• ¾ oz fresh lime juice

• ¼ oz cranberry juice

• Ice cubes

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.

2. Shake until well chilled.

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3. Strain into a chilled Martini glass.

4. Garnish with a lime twist.

Pro tip

Chill your glass in the freezer for max crispness. See the complete Cosmopolitan recipe.

Craft a Vesper Martini

Feeling fancy? James Bond first ordered this in Casino Royale—three measures of gin, one of vodka, and half measure of Kina Lillet (now Lillet Blanc). Shaken, not stirred.

Ingredients

• 3 oz gin

• 1 oz vodka

• ½ oz Lillet Blanc

• Lemon twist

• Ice cubes

Instructions

1. Combine gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc in a shaker with ice.

2. Shake hard for 15 seconds.

3. Strain into a chilled Martini glass.

4. Express lemon twist oils over the rim.

Pro tip

Use a metal shaker to nail that icy chill. Check out the Vesper Martini recipe for more Bond lore.

Build a Singapore Sling

First served at Raffles Hotel Singapore, this cocktail pops up in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and even Cocktail. Fruity, fizzy, and pink—talk about a showstopper.

Ingredients

• 1½ oz gin

• ½ oz Cherry Heering (cherry liqueur)

• ¼ oz Cointreau

• ¼ oz DOM Bénédictine

• 4 oz pineapple juice

• ½ oz lime juice

• Dash of grenadine

• Soda water

• Ice cubes

Instructions

1. Fill a shaker with ice and all ingredients except soda.

2. Shake until cold.

3. Strain into a Collins glass over fresh ice.

4. Top with soda water.

5. Garnish with pineapple wedge and cherry.

Pro tip

Use fresh pineapple juice and homemade simple syrup for the best balance. Full recipe at Singapore Sling.

Garnish a Gibson Martini

The Queen’s Gambit made this onion-garnished Martini trendy again. Gin, dry vermouth, and that tiny pickled onion make all the difference.

Ingredients

• 2½ oz gin

• ½ oz dry vermouth

• 1–2 pickled onions

• Ice cubes

Instructions

1. Stir gin and vermouth with ice in a mixing glass.

2. Strain into a chilled Martini glass.

3. Garnish with one or two pickled onions.

Pro tip

Stir rather than shake for a silky texture. Learn more at Gibson Martini.

Savor a Boulevardier

Groundhog Day fans will love this whiskey-based riff on the Negroni—bourbon replaces gin for a rich, warming spin.

Ingredients

• 1 oz bourbon

• 1 oz sweet vermouth

• 1 oz Campari

• Orange twist

• Ice cubes

Instructions

1. Stir bourbon, vermouth, and Campari with ice until cold.

2. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube.

3. Garnish with an expressed orange twist.

Pro tip

Use a single large ice cube to slow dilution. See the full Boulevardier recipe.

Wrapping up

There you have it—9 iconic cocktails recipes inspired by the movies that’ll up your mixology game and wow your guests. Whether you’re channeling The Dude’s chill vibe or 007’s sophistication, there’s a recipe here for every taste. Pick one to try tonight, and let us know which on-screen sip becomes your new signature drink. Cheers to movie magic in a glass!