Whether you’re loyal to crime fiction or always have the latest New York Times Best Seller on your bedside table, your taste in literature can say a lot about your personality – as well as influence your taste in cocktails (think Ian Fleming and the martini, Truman Capote and the white angel, Hunter S Thompson and... well, everything).
That’s why we asked mixologist Anthony Peart, drinks maestro and bar manager at the Michelin-starred The Hand and Flowers in Marlow, to shake up six drinks inspired by some new and classic books, all made with Russian Standard vodka.
Made with 100% authentic Russian ingredients and 200-times distilled, Russian Standard is an award-winning spirit that won’t break the bank. After all, why not add a little affordable luxury to your everyday?
Pick your favourite book below and settle down with one of these delicious literature-inspired drinks.
If you like Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendez, you should drink...
The New Standard
This sharp coming-of-age novel explores exactly what it means to be a young, queer Black man in Britain. It’s bold, fearless and fresh – much like The New Standard.
“The New Standard is bold and brooding,” says Peart. “I wanted to create a sense of the Black Country, where Rainbow Milk is set, and the Britannica does just that. It’s rich, dark and intriguing with slight notes of smoke and menthol.”
Ingredients & method
- 40ml Russian Standard
- 20ml Asterley Bros Britannica London Fernet
- 2 drops Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters
Stir all ingredients on ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a twist of lime peel.
If you like Billy Summers by Stephen King, you should drink...
vodka martini
When you think of Stephen King, only one genre comes to mind. His latest horror, Billy Summers, tells the story of a good guy in a bad job; an assassin on his last assignment, desperately trying to get out.
“A hard-hitting contract killer deserves a stiff tipple, and this punchy classic featuring Russian Standard will hit you straight between the eyes,” says Peart. “If that sounds scary, don’t worry: this drink is gently tempered with the slow dilution of ice.”
Ingredients & method
- 50ml Russian Standard
- 15ml Dry Vermouth
Stir both ingredients over ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon or two pitted olives.
If you like Empireland by Sathnam Sanghera, you should drink...
vodka gimlet
In Sanghera’s book on imperialism, he interrogates the lasting impacts of the bloody British Empire. While a gimlet isn’t exactly comparable to Britain’s imperial past, whether a gimlet should be served with gin or vodka is always a controversy.
“The derivation of the name gimlet is contested, but one thought is that it was named after Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Gimlette, who is said to have first added lime cordial to the daily gin tot of the men of the Royal Navy to combat scurvy on their long travels,” says Peart. “This is a spin on that, but with Russian Standard vodka, giving a nod to the British empire’s naval forces.”
Ingredients & method
- 50ml Russian Standard
- 25ml freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 teaspoons of caster sugar
Shake all ingredients and strain into a chilled martini glass.
If you like Taste by Stanley Tucci, you should drink...
Fro’s bloody mary
If you’re already a fan of Tucci’s famous ‘quarantini cocktail’ you’ll love Peart’s signature bloody mary (the Fro comes from his nickname).
“A heart-warming memoir deserves a heart-warming cocktail, and what better than a zingy bloody mary starring Russian Standard?” asks Peart. “It’s the perfect drink with copious ingredients that’ll please foodies, creating something quite sublime.”
Ingredients & method
- 50ml Russian Standard
- 250ml tomato juice
- 1 teaspoon of Marmite
- 3 to 4 glugs of Worcester sauce
- 5 drops of Tabasco, sprinkle of stock cube
Add all ingredients to a tall glass and stir. Add ice and stir once more. Garnish with celery and pitted olive.
If you like The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, you should drink...
The Great Gatsby
For classic literary lovers, you’ll be after an equally classic cocktail. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel was set in a time of glamorous parties – and you don’t get much more glam than the Gatsby.
“A firm American classic, during the Twenties Lillet was served on big transatlantic liners – part of the reason for its success with high society New York. It’s incredibly refreshing when made with Russian Standard and a great celebratory breakfast drink, too,” says Peart.
Ingredients & method
- 25ml Russian Standard
- 25ml Lillet Blanc
- 60ml pink grapefruit juice
Add all ingredients to a shaker and shake. Strain into a rocks glass with ice and garnish with a wedge of grapefruit.
If you like Shadows of Men by Abir Mukherjee, you should drink...
Milk & Honey
There’s something irresistible about a crime novel. From the first suspect to the eventual criminal reveal, few do it better than Abir Mukherjee and his Wyndham and Banerjee series.
“Using 40ml of Russian Standard, I wanted to create a subtle taste of India to match this novel, which is set in Calcutta in 1923,” says Peart. “The fragrant and aromatic cardamom does this beautifully, while the sweetness of honey gives a really nice balance to the cocktail.”
Ingredients & method
- 40ml Russian Standard
- 2 teaspoons of runny honey
- 50ml milk
- 2 cardamom pods
Shake all ingredients vigorously to help break down the cardamom. Strain into a tall glass with ice. No garnish necessary.
Raise your standards and experience Russian Standard for yourself here
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