Get Busy Drinking: The Shawshank Redemption Reimagined Through ‘Prison Break’ and ‘Zihuatanejo’ Cocktails

Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) labeled the "Wife Killing Banker" needs a few things the prison commissary doesn't supply, so he introduces himself to "Red" (Morgan Freeman) who is the man who knows how to get things.  Upon introduction, he tells Red that he didn’t do it and Red lets him know that, “Everyone in here is innocent" so he'll fit right in.   Andy does begin to fit right in by helping the inmates take an interest in education and completing the tax returns of the guards and Warden Norton (Bob Gunton).  He eventually becomes entrusted with managing the books of the revenue generated from the prison and prison labor.  All of this really helped Andy to fit in, and it all fit into a plot that Andy was planning as well.  

Our first cocktail's inspiration comes with a *spoiler alert* for The Shawshank Redemption, Andy’s plot which is unfolding under Warden Norton and Captain Hadley's (Clancy Brown) also unfolds under ours and it is all covered up by a poster of 1940's pin-up girl Rita Hayworth- Andy's prison break.  Upon that inspiration, we reformulated The Martinez- a cocktail created around the 1880's as a gin-based Manhattan then reformulated and popularized in the 1940's.   Instead of an equal parts cocktail of Gin and Sweet Vermouth, we wanted to bring up the sharpness of the gin to reflect the cold and biting nature of the Shawshank Prison, so we made to 2:1 gin to vermouth, hailing from the 1940's Martinez, we used Luxardo and both orange and Angostura bitters to give the cocktail a depth of warming spices.  We stirred this all together and served it in a coupe with a lemon peel spritz to brighten it up and placed a lemon peel on the side to freshen the air and called it "Prison Break".  The Prison Break cocktail with it's refreshing finish will inspire you to dig to freedom under the guise of a lovely Rita Hayworth Pin-Up.  

After breaking out of the Shawshank Prison, Andy already had his place of refuge in mind and asked Red to join him there when he gets out on parole.  Zihuatanejo is a beautiful, quiet part of Mexico coastline with white sand beaches and clear, blue water.  To capture this vibe, and the taste of sweet success in the cocktail Zihuatanejo, combine a sweet, white rum with fresh lime juice and barkeeper's coconut cream (like Coco Real), shake it up and strain over packed, crushed ice in a highball and gently pour on top some Blue Curacao.  It's so light and refreshing, perfect for a hot day on a boat after breaking out of prison.