The Thin Man

From the classic movie series The Thin Man from the 1930s, the lead character, Nick Charles (as portrayed by William Powell), epitomized the style of post-prohibition New York high-life. "Highballs and cocktails, he announced, "the long and the short of it."

Here are just a few of the cocktails from the movies of the golden age of Hollywood.

Nick Charles' Dry Martini (from The Thin Man)

2½ oz gin
½ oz dry vermouth

Stir ingredients with cracked ice and pour into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with either a lemon zest, olive or cocktail onion (which makes it a Gibson).

General Sternwood's Champagne Cocktail (from The Big Sleep)

1 sugar cube
2 or 3 drops Angostura bitters
⅔ oz Cognac
6 oz Champagne

Soak sugar cube with Angostura bitters. Place cube in bottom of Champagne flute. Add Cognac, fill with Champagne. Garnish with a twist.

Sugar Kane's Manhattan (from Some Like It Hot)

2 oz rye whisky
½ oz sweet vermouth
1 dash Angostura bitters

Shake ingredients with cracked ice; strain into a chilled cocktail glass and serve. Garnish with a Maraschino cherry.