Cocktails have been appearing in novels for generations. However, a drink in the hands of a fictional character is rarely there simply because they are thirsty.
Writers have used cocktails to suggest wealth, celebration, escape and excess. Sometimes, the choice of drink tells us something about a character before they have even said very much.
From the parties of The Great Gatsby to the precise drinking habits of James Bond, cocktails have certainly made their mark on literature.
Cocktails and The Great Gatsby
Few novels capture the extravagance of the Jazz Age quite like F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, published in 1925.
Alcohol flows freely at Jay Gatsby’s lavish parties, despite the novel taking place during American Prohibition. Consequently, drinking becomes part of Fitzgerald’s portrayal of wealth, excess and rebellion.
One particularly memorable drink is the Mint Julep. It appears during a crucial scene involving Daisy, Gatsby and Tom Buchanan.
However, the glamorous surroundings disguise much darker tensions. Fitzgerald uses parties and drinking to contrast outward success with dissatisfaction and disillusionment.
As a result, cocktails become part of the carefully constructed world surrounding Gatsby and his guests.
Ernest Hemingway and the Daiquiri
Ernest Hemingway had a well-documented association with drinking, and alcohol frequently appears throughout his writing.
Characters drink in novels including The Sun Also Rises and A Farewell to Arms. Sometimes it accompanies friendship and conversation. Elsewhere, drinking reflects attempts to cope with war, uncertainty and personal difficulties.
Hemingway also became closely associated with the Daiquiri during his time in Cuba.
His connection with Havana’s El Floridita bar subsequently became part of cocktail folklore. A variation of the Daiquiri is still widely associated with his name.
Therefore, the relationship between Hemingway and cocktails extends beyond the pages of his novels into the story surrounding the writer himself.
James Bond and the Vesper Martini
Few fictional characters have a stronger association with cocktails than James Bond.
Ian Fleming introduced Bond in Casino Royale in 1953. During the novel, Bond gives precise instructions for a cocktail combining gin, vodka and Kina Lillet.
He eventually names the drink the Vesper, after Vesper Lynd.
The Vesper subsequently became one of the most famous cocktails associated with literature and film.
Bond’s wider preference for Martinis also became an important part of the character. His particular approach to ordering drinks reinforces an image of someone who knows exactly what he wants.
Decades later, the association between Bond and the Martini remains firmly embedded in popular culture.
When a Cocktail Becomes Part of the Character
The choice of drink can be a surprisingly effective literary device.
A carefully ordered Martini might suggest control and confidence. Meanwhile, overflowing glasses at a party can represent excess or the desire to escape everyday life.
The setting matters too.
Bars, restaurants and hotel lounges provide writers with places where characters can meet, celebrate and argue. Moreover, sharing a drink can create opportunities for conversations that move a story forward.
Cocktails can therefore become part of the atmosphere without ever becoming the main subject.
From the Page to the Bar
Literature and popular culture continue to influence what customers order.
Someone discovering the Vesper through James Bond might decide to try one at a bar. Likewise, a customer familiar with Hemingway may be tempted by a Daiquiri.
Classic cocktails also continue to inspire modern menus. While recipes and presentation may change, many of the familiar names remain.
Behind the scenes, however, successful cocktail service depends on more practical considerations. Bars need reliable ingredients, consistent mixers and equipment that can cope when service gets busy.
At CS Drinks, we supply post-mix soft drinks, mixers and dispensing equipment to pubs, clubs, bars, bistros, cafés and other hospitality venues.
After all, whether inspiration comes from a cocktail menu or the pages of a classic novel, somebody still has to make the drink.