A Non-Linear Crime Classic Reimagined: Pulp Fiction Inspires Two Iconic Cocktails Straight from Tarantino’s Twisted L.A. Underworld 

In the heart of Los Angeles is a crime web so convolutedly connected, only Quentin Tarantino can tell the story.  Pulp Fiction tells the tale of thieving Pumpkin (Tim Roth) and Hunny Bunny (Amanda Plummer; the bribed, match-fixing, prize-fighter Butch Coolidge and his girlfriend (Maria de Medeiros); Zed (Peter Greene) a dirty cop and his pawn-shop owning partner Maynard (Duane Whitaker) and S&M slave The Gimp (Stephen Hibbert); Drug Dealers; the cleaner Mr. Wolf (Harvey Keitel); two hitmen Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vince Vega (John Travolta); crime boss Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames) and his wife Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) who seem to be at the heart of all of the crime, but whose stories never meet in this movie.  This high-octane, non-linear, genre blending film could have inspired a number of cocktails, however, we are starting with two drinks being enjoyed in this dark comedy thriller.   

Upon returning home after a long vacation in Amsterdam, Vince Vega, a hitman for a major crime boss in L.A., California spends the day with fellow hitman Jules Winnfield. Vince, has been asked by their employer to take the brutal-by-reputation crime boss's wife out for the evening.  Against the advice of Jules, Vince takes Mia out for what he expects to be a nice, low-key evening.  At her request, they go to a 1950's style restaurant and club.  She order's a "Five Dollar Shake" Martin and Lewis style (vanilla).  Vince is taken aback by the price and asks if there's Bourbon in it.  The waiter dressed as Buddy Holly (Steve Buscemi) responds with a slightly irritated, "no".  Time to order a "Five Dollar Shake" hold the vexing, because we put Bourbon in it.  To make this boozy shake, we start by combining everything icy-cold in a blender.  You can either chill the spirits in the freezer ahead of time, or combine enough to make a drink or two in the blender and place that in the freezer to chill.  Either way, make sure everything is icy cold.  A typical 50's diner-style milk shake is simply blending ice cream with malted milk powder and milk.  The Boozy Movies Five Dollar Shake replaces the milk with Bourbon, Amaretto, and Crème De Banana to achieve a milkshake that tastes creamy, sweet and delicious, but with a nice Bourbon complexity and spice.  It is delicious Martin and Lewis style if you like vanilla, but don't put away that blender until you've made it Amos and Andy because bourbon and chocolate are an incredible pair. This Five Dollar Shake will definitely get you dancing, or wherever the evening might take you- hopefully not in the style of Mia and Vincent.  

In this non-linear story-telling, Vincent later finds himself in another unplanned event where his companion, now Jules, is enjoying a beverage.  Were this on a timeline, this event took place prior to Vincent meeting Mia.  In any case, Jules takes Vincent to the home of Jimmie (Quentin Tarantino) and Bonnie.  Jimmie is irritated with Jules because his morning coffee has been interjected with harboring criminal activity of the very messy, very bloody kind.  The kind that his wife, Bonnie, will leave Jimmie for if she comes home to the mess.  To ease the tension, Jules tells Jimmie that the coffee Jimmie prides himself on is some "Serious Gourmet Shit".  For the morning they're having, Vincent is likely thinking he'd like some whiskey in the coffee too.  So, if you'd like to put your foot on the gas and the brake at the same time, this is the cocktail for you.  We mix warm coffee with a smooth whiskey (flavored whiskies are great here), Cointreau, with Coco and Walnut Bitters to bring out the fruity bitterness of a good brew.  Be sure to keep the temperature between 160F and 165F to ensure the alcohol doesn't break out of solution and make the cocktail taste like acetone.  If you use a smooth, blended whiskey such as a Canadian or Irish, it will enhance the fruit flavors of the coffee that your chose which is what we recommend.  If you use bourbon or American whiskey, you will bring out the earthy, grassy flavors of the coffee.  A flavored whiskey will do the same, but add sweetness and some additional flavors to make it some "Serious Gourmet Shit".