This week on Alcohollywood, Clayton Faits of Our Fair City and Chicago actor Andrew Saenz joins us to take a look at the Robin Williams science fiction vehicle Bicentennial Man! Adapted from the short story and novel by author Isaac Asimov, the film follows two hundred years of a robot butler (Williams) who strives to be human. This includes falling in love with the granddaughter of his original charge (Embeth Davidtz). Directed by Chris Columbus, the film is a bit of a sentimental slog of weepy scenes about life and love. That being said, it gives us a lot to talk about. Kick back and give us a listen with our custom cocktail and drinking rules!
LISTEN HERE OR DOWNLOAD:
THIS EPISODE’S DRINK: Clockwork
This whiskey based drink transforms some humble thyme into something entirely different, echoing Robin Williams’ transformation in the film from robot to human. Instead of aging this whiskey in oak, we decide to throw in some fruity citrus flavors to represent some of the wackier costume and production design in this futuristic tale.
3 parts white whiskey (infuse with orange and raspberry)
1 part amaretto
1 part dry vermouth
Fresh thyme leaves
1) Pour white whiskey into infusion jar along with fresh raspberries and orange slices. The more this infuses, the more flavor you get, so steep for at least 1-3 days.
2) To make the thyme ice, mash fresh thyme leaves in a mortar and pestle and steep in hot water for several minutes. Pour that water into an ice tray or mold and freeze.
3) Pour amaretto, whiskey and vermouth in desired glass with thyme ice. Stir to combine.
DRINKING RULES FOR BICENTENNIAL MAN:
- Whenever the film skips ahead in time
- Any time Andrew misunderstands a figure of speech or idiom
- Every time you hear the word “One”
FINISH YOUR DRINK WHEN:
Lynne Thigpen gives the speech that eventually grants Andrew his humanity.
Join us next week as we follow our long standing tradition of weird Japanese flicks with the 2009 apocalyptic rock film Fish Story!
