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
- Coat the rim of the coupe class with sugar, if desired (Zachary would not approve), and set aside.
- Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake.
- Strain into the prepared glass.
- 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
- Shake all liquid ingredients together for ten seconds.
- Strain into a lowball glass.
- 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
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add all remaining ingredients except the lime wheel and shake well.
- Strain into a chilled coupe.
- 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
- 3 ounces gin
- 1 ounce vodka
- ½ ounce Lillet blanc apéritif
- Garnish: lemon twist
Directions
- Add all the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
- 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
- Vigorously shake the gin, simple syrup, and lemon juice over ice.
- Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Garnish with the lemon peel.
Directions for Honey Simple Syrup
- In a small saucepan, heat the honey and ½ cup water over medium heat until the honey is dissolved.
- Cool to room temperature before using.
Recipe source: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/geoffrey-zakarian/bees-knees-2420111