Cannes Cannes! | Film Festival Cocktails | In The Spirit |
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The 2004 Cannes Festival International du Film (that’s the Cannes Film Festival to the rest of us!) takes place between 12-23 May in the glorious area of Southern France known as the French Riviera. This year’s Film Festival has a competition list that’s pretty wide ranging.

From subjects as diverse as “the Life and Death of Peter Sellers”, to a remake of the 1950’s classic “The Ladykillers” and Shrek 2 - as well as an abundance of films from France, China, Austria, Japan and South Korea. Also being shown at the Festival – although not in the competition – but prior to general release in Europe is the 2004 epic Troy starring Brad Pitt.

Sorry we can’t physically take you all to Cannes for one big in-the-spirit cocktail party to celebrate the Film Festival in real style but we hope this feature will be the next best thing! We have developed a range of exciting new cocktail recipes, inspired by some of the films featured this year, film stars and the location of the Festival itself – the fabulous French Riviera.

Riviera

RivieraFor a taste of the Riviera, why not try our Riviera cocktail? Made from gin and the Noilly Prat (a classic French ingredient from a little further down the French coast in the Languedoc), together with a couple of dashes of De Kuyper Crème de Cacao White and De Kuyper Cherry Brandy. Garnish this classy cocktail with a zest of orange and enjoy!

Palme d'Or

Palme d'OrThis year’s Festival is the 57th since it first began in 1939. Films in competition are shown throughout the Festival to win the prestigious Palme d’Or award – one of the most sought after film awards in the world. The award was named after the palm trees which have become so inextricably linked with our images of the seafront boulevards of Cannes. To celebrate this award revered by the film industry, in-the-spirit has created the Palme d’Or cocktail - made from vodka, lemon juice and lime cordial with a zest of orange to garnish and finished off with a cocktail cherry! Yummy!

Bloody Mary

Bloody MarySo who might you be likely to bump into at Cannes 2004? Renowned film director Quentin Tarantino is the president of the competition jury which also includes well known French actress Emmanuelle Béart plus American actress Kathleen Turner and they will be choosing the recipient of the prestigious Palme d’Or. The cocktail recipe that we thought would best suit the personality of Quentin Tarantino is the classic Bloody Mary – made with lashings of tomato juice, a shot of vodka and a quite a few other ingredients to give it an unmistakable spicy yet distinctive character!

Green Monster

Green MonsterAnother cocktail idea we have discovered is to honour to one of our favourite characters returning to the big screen this summer. Never mind Brad Pitt as Achilles in Troy, our hero’s film is in the competition in Cannes, he is larger than life, his best friend is a donkey that sounds like Eddie Murphy and he is big and green! Yes, Shrek returns in his film sequel and our cocktail Green Monster is the in-the-spirit way to celebrate our favourite cartoon character. Shake together a shot of De Kuyper Crème de Menthe (green) and one and a half shots of light rum together with a dash of lemon juice and ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

Into The Blue

Into The BluePicture yourself in the old port at Cannes and watching the yachts moored in the marina – and looking out to the deep blue of the Mediterranean sea. Why not take yourself there in spirit by trying out our Into The Blue cocktail. This is a delicious blend of De Kuyper Blue Curaçao and light rum, with grapefruit juice and topped up with soda if desired. Just dive in … gorgeous!

Gin & French

Gin & FrenchFor a long cool drink whilst you are imagining yourself sitting at a pavement café bar on the Boulevard de la Croisette near the famous Carlton Hotel people watching … why not dry this long refreshing cocktail? An old classic that in-the-spirit has re-discovered called a Gin & French. The gin part is obvious but the “French” refers to Noilly Prat Dry. All you need to do is mix a shot each of gin and Noilly Prat in an ice filled high ball glass and top up with either soda or tonic water depending on what you prefer. Decorate it with a sliver of lemon peel and a sprig of mint for a mouth watering drink. Trust us - after this, you’ll never want a white wine spritzer again!

 
   
 

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