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A Cocktail Guide for The Starless Sea

Sometimes a delicious beverage is just the thing to liven up a reading group discussion. It just so happens that the characters of Erin Morgenstern’s The Starless Sea also love a good cocktail. From “Hemingway Daiquiris” to “Drowning Ophelias,” the drinks of The Starless Sea sound both bookish and delectable, and we couldn’t resist compiling them into a cocktail guide. Just remember, when it comes to Zachary’s favorite drink (the sidecar) hold the sugar!

Sidecar: “Zachary takes a sip of his sidecar. It is quite possibly the most perfect sidecar that he has ever tasted and he wonders how perfection can be so disconcerting.” (p. 287)

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounce cognac
  • ¾ ounce orange liqueur (Cointreau or Grand Marnier)
  • ¾ ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • Garnish: orange twist
  • Garnish: sugar rim (optional)

Directions

  1. Coat the rim of the coupe class with sugar, if desired (Zachary would not approve), and set aside.
  2. Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake.
  3. Strain into the prepared glass.
  4. Garnish with an orange twist.

Recipe source: https://www.liquor.com/recipes/sidecar/

 

Drowning Ophelia: “He orders one of the literary cocktail creations at the bar, a Drowning Ophelia made with gin and lemon and fennel syrup, served with a sprig of rosemary and a napkin with an appropriate Hamlet quote printed on it.” (p.78)

Ingredients

  • 1¾ ounce gin
  • 3/4 ounce fennel syrup
  • Juice of ½ lemon
  • Garnish: sprig of rosemary (optional)

Directions

  1. Shake all liquid ingredients together for ten seconds.
  2. Strain into a lowball glass.
  3. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

Recipe source: The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

 

“Hemingway Daiquiris”: “Other guests sip Hemingway Daiquiris . . . ..” (p. 78)

Ingredients

  • Ice
  • 2 ounces white rum
  • ¾ ounce fresh lime juice
  • ½ ounce fresh grapefruit juice
  • ½ ounce maraschino liqueur
  • 1 lime wheel, for garnish (optional)

Directions

  1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
  2. Add all remaining ingredients except the lime wheel and shake well.
  3. Strain into a chilled coupe.
  4. Garnish with the lime wheel.

Recipe source: https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/hemingway-daiquiri-cocktails-2009

 

“Vespers”: “Other guests sip . . . Vespers garnished with complicated curls of lemon.” (p. 78)

Ingredients

  1. 3 ounces gin
  2. 1 ounce vodka
  3. ½ ounce Lillet blanc apéritif
  4. Garnish: lemon twist

Directions

  1. Add all the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir.
  2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
  3. Twist a slice of lemon peel over the drink, rub along the rim of the glass, and drop it in.

Recipe source: https://www.liquor.com/recipes/vesper/

 

Bee’s Knees: “Out of curiosity, Zachary picks up the glass and takes a tiny sip, expecting it to taste like honey and it does but it also tastes familiarly of gin and lemon. A bee’s knees. Of course.” (p. 532)

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces gin
  • 1 ounce lemon juice
  • 1 ounce honey simple syrup (directions below)
  • Garnish: lemon peel

Directions

  1. Vigorously shake the gin, simple syrup, and lemon juice over ice.
  2. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
  3. Garnish with the lemon peel.

Directions for Honey Simple Syrup

  1. In a small saucepan, heat the honey and ½ cup water over medium heat until the honey is dissolved.
  2. Cool to room temperature before using.

Recipe source: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/geoffrey-zakarian/bees-knees-2420111