It’s always a good time when you’re sitting in bed, reading and re-reading your favorite classics with a glass of wine in hand. But just imagine, if you could have a glass of what your favorite leading men drink while revisiting their books – wouldn’t that just make your day? Here are some of our most memorable men in literature and their drink of choice for those of you happen to enjoy geeking out just as much as I do.
Jay Gatsby – Gin Rickey
While Jay may not be much of a drinker, The Great Gatsby wouldn’t be great without the extravagant parties and the rich drinking all the time. Amongst the many drinks mentioned including Singapore Slings, Mint Juleps and lots of champagne, the Gin Rickey seemed to tickle Jay’s fancy the most. Made of lime juice, gin, simple syrup and soda, the drink is extremely easy to make. Maybe it’s time to throw your own Gatsby-esque party?
Mr Pickwick – Punch
The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens is one of the finest pieces of classic literature out there. People who’ve read it might remember the mentions of the members of the Pickwick club having a rum punch – Mr Pickwick’s absolute favourite. While the details of the drink have never been explicitly stated, we’re assuming it has a fruit base and whole lot of rum – and we’re down with that.
Ebenezer Scrooge – Smoking Bishop
If you haven’t read A Christmas Carol as a kid, what were you really doing? The tale of grumpy old Ebenezer Scrooge finding out the true meaning of X-mas is a must read. Fans like me always wanted to know what Scrooge meant when he asked Bob to discuss affairs over a Smoking Bishop. Apparently, this mulled wine/punch was highly popular at Christmas time during the Victorian Era and was made with red wine, port, lemons, sugar and spices. If you’re up to the task, there are several recipes to recreate this delicious drink online. Get to it!
Hannibal Lecter – Chianti
Hannibal Lecter might just be the greatest villain we’ve ever seen in books (and film and TV) and possibly also the most sophisticated. His taste for the finer and umm…fleshier things in life is apparent in one of Silence of The Lambs’ most iconic lines. Anthony Hopkins as Dr Lecter speaks of eating a man’s liver ‘with some fava beans and a nice chianti’. While we highly discourage the liver part of the meal, we do suggest finding rich friends that can indulge you with the opulent chianti wine made in the Chianti regions of France.
Patrick Bateman – J&B on the rocks
American Psycho was a defining book in the world of literature with its gore, its take on American homogenization and the world of money and drugs – Wall Street. Patrick Bateman, the homicidal maniac, was part of a very elite group of men (read snooty, rich assholes) who enjoyed their drinks elite and in a very particular way. Patrick’s favourite was a J&B on the rocks – a great choice of scotch whisky for someone so despicable. If you were to go by the movie starring Christian Bale, you could also try out a J&B straight along with a Corona unless you’re (as Patrick would say) peasants like us.