Although they are rarely shown drinking, Batman and Alfred would enjoy Gotham City Cocktails by André Darlington. As every fan knows, Batman has had to attend plenty of parties to uphold his secret identity as billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne, which probably means he's got pretty good taste in what to drink. The author of a new book has compiled dozens of delicious drink and snack recipes cleverly tied to some of DC's most recognizable heroes and villains so literally there's a little something for everybody.
Gotham City Cocktails draws on two aspects of the infamous city that have become synonymous with the Dark Knight. First, Gotham's elite are often seen holding fundraisers or lavish parties where the drinks flow and Bruce Wayne rubs elbows with his fellow socialites. Second, Gotham has a wide range of bars ranging from Noonan's Sleazy Bar in the Cauldron district to the Penguin owned Iceberg Lounge which have had their fair share of superhero encounters, brawls, and renovations. The author draws upon that rich history to create an anthology of drinks that both celebrates and commemorates these characters who have become significant in mainstream and pop culture.
According to DC, the book along with excellent photos by photographer Ted Thomas help to further sell the recipes, beckoning the readers with the idea that just like cosplay, an image on the page can become in this case, a delicious three-dimensional reality. Of the 70 recipes included, one is "The Dark Knightcap" which combines Scotch, Averna, club soda, Angostura bitters, and a lemon peel for garnish as the perfect brooding drink to toast Gotham's famous protector. Another is "Elegy" cleverly referencing Kathy Kane aka Batwoman's New 52 origin story by Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III with a drink combining dry and blanc vermouth, pomegranate juice, club soda, and the same lemon twist garnish as the drink commemorating her famous cousin. If heroes aren't your style, "One Bad Day" references the famous Alan Moore and Brian Bolland's Killing Joke speech, mixing mind-altering mezcal, orange liqueur Cointreau, elderflower liqueur, lime juice, and absinthe with an orange garnish for a drink that's guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
While drinking can be enjoyable, even the sleaziest bar in Gotham provides food or at least snacks for its paying customers. Alongside other drinks like "the Gray Fox" or " The Demon's Head", there are recipes like the "Monarch Theater Popcorn", referencing the theater the Wayne family visited to watch " The Mark of the Zorro" that infamous night in comic book history. The recipe calls for popcorn, coconut oil, curry powder, Old Bay seasoning, salt and pepper, as well as a little lime zest for garnish. As delicious as these recipes are, readers can be sure Bruce wouldn't partake, either due to his strict regiment to keep the Bat-Abs or considering the number of times he's run out on Alfred's freshly cooked meals.
In the end, Gotham City Cocktails is the perfect book for Batman fans who are eager to take their quiet night in or upcoming social gathering to the next level. André Darlington appears to have found that perfect balance of nerdy and practical, providing recipes with ingredients that any adult can purchase and provide for the heroes and villains in any group. The book is available for purchase at your local bookstore or online retailers and although Batman would encourage you to drink responsibly, the recipes are good enough that even Bruce Wayne may take a sip just to see what all the fuss is about.
Source: DC Comics