Come on, Barbie, let’s go party Dolled-up cocktails celebrate film’s buzz By: AV Kitching Posted: 6:26 PM CDT Thursday, Jul. 20, 2023

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/07/2023 (1146 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

To celebrate the launch of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie, the Free Press embarked on a mini cocktail crawl to live out our dreams as we sampled five (and one extra) in an afternoon dedicated to frothy, frivolous fun.

These smooth-drinking bubblegum-hued aperitifs may look harmless, but don’t be deceived. Behind their glittery, sparkling appearance lie hefty tots of spirits strong enough to knock you out after a couple of glasses.

Have a leisurely sip and surrender to the Barbiecore; you know you want to.

Cheers! (Now where’s that Tylenol?)

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Amsterdam Tea Room’s Malibu Barbie the Cocktail

Created by Melaney Droguette
Where: 103-211 Bannatyne Ave.
Price: $15

What’s in it: Northern Keep vodka, Pina Colada tea, coconut, lime, pink salt, pink popping candy

The mixologist says: Pink is an iconic Barbie colour and it’s one of the first things I think about when I picture her. It was really fun to work on this cocktail; we have popping candy on the rim so it’s a bit more playful. We’re also offering a non-alcoholic version, Barbie’s Beach House, which has all the same ingredients except for the vodka.

What does it taste like? The perfect shade of Barbie pink, this harmless looking concoction packs quite the punch. Droguette nails the colour; it’s an exact match to the famous Mattel Magenta. The drink looks sweet and the popping candy sits on the right side of frivolity, but don’t be lulled into treating it like a fizzy pop; there’s nothing playful about this sophisticated tipple.

Drink this if you like: Creamy vodka-based drinks

Available until: July 28

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Darling Bar’s Hi, Barbie

Created by Dylan Pereira
Where: 171 McDermot Ave.
Price: $16

What’s in it: Gin, Amaro Nonino, green chartreuse, lemon, grenadine, grapefruit, absinthe, edible glitter

The mixologist says: I played with the idea of a cocktail that looks really feminine but has a more masculine flavour profile. I was hesitant about doing a Barbie cocktail, as I didn’t want it to be too gimmicky. I wanted it to stand as cocktail, not be something that was too juicy or fake flavoured. This drink has a partner, Hi Ken (see next) with complementing flavours.

What does it taste like? Heavenly. Sipping this is a delight. Gentle citrusy notes draw you in, followed by a heady herbal hit courtesy of the absinthe, the warm anise notes giving depth to this highly fragrant creation. The flavours linger long after the last sip. There is more to this bold Barbie than meets the eye.

Drink this if you like: Complex drinks you can sink into

Available until: July 31 (but can be made to order if requested)

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Darling Bar’s Hi, Ken

Created by Dylan Pereira
Where: 171 McDermot Ave.
Price: $16

What’s in it: Pineapple-infused Pisco, coconut-infused rum, Montenegro, lemon, orgeat, cinnamon, pineapple bitters, mint

The mixologist says: This one looks more masculine but has more feminine, floral and sweet notes. I thought a lot about how you can be what you want to be, it doesn’t matter what you look like. There is a narrative that runs through both the drinks — a flip of gender norms. I made quite a few versions of this trying to figure it out. It’s somewhere between a tiki-style and a sour.

What does it taste like? Decanted into a squat lowball with just the one block of ice, Hi, Ken is a lesson in never judging a book by its cover. Witty, playful and surprising, this is a refreshing, juicy cocktail perfect for al fresco drinking.

Drink this if you like: Tropical flavours and sandy beaches

Available until: July 31 (but can be made to order if requested)

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Solera’s The Bubblie Barbara

Created by Jacob Samuels
Where: Tabula Rasa, 725 Osborne St.
Price: $15

What’s in it: House-made grapefruit-cello, Aperol, strawberry rosé syrup, fresh lime juice, cranberry-lemon air

The mixologist says: This is a nod to Barbie doing her hair before she gets ready to go out. The bubbles are meant to be the foam of the shampoo and is actually cranberry-lemon air. When people think of Barbie, they think sweet, but I wanted to make something a bit more like a Cosmopolitan. It has some sweetness to it, but on the whole it is a very well-balanced cockail with the acidity of the grapefruit and lime juice.

What does it taste like? Aperol can be a challenging spirit, we’ve found, but in this drink, it becomes an easier liqueur to swallow. You get a nose full of airy bubbles, then a swift hit of sweet-sour before the bitter bite of Aperol kicks in. Very grown-up.

Drink this if you like: A Paloma or a Cosmopolitan

Available until: July 31

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Club 200’s Malibu Barbie

Created by Kelly McIvor
Where: 190 Garry St.
Price: $12

What’s in it: Malibu rum, Sour Puss Raspberry liquor and a cherry on top

The mixologist says: This is supposed to be fun, fruity and bubbly, just like Barbie. This drink is always on our menu, we just made it a touch sweeter for the film, and I wanted it a bit more colourful. It’s a really refreshing cocktail and this version was made especially for our Barbie Drag show on July 28.

What does it taste like? A little bit kitschy, a little bit naughty and a whole lot of nice, this classic cocktail will leave you wanting more. Perfectly pink, a great summer drink that errs on the right side of sweet courtesy of the tangy raspberry liquor, which stops it from becoming too cloying.

Drink this if you like: Razztini’s or Sourcrush

Available until: July 31 (a less sweet version is a permanent fixture)

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BONUS OPPENHEIMER COCKTAIL

As Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated Oppenheimer also opens this week, Solera’s Samuels has created another film-themed drink, the Mushaboom, to celebrate the film about the “father of the atomic bomb.”

Solera’s The Mushaboom

Created by Jacob Samuels
Where: Tabula Rasa, 725 Osborne St.
Price: $15

What’s in it: Porcini and truffle-infused Crystal Head vodka, Aperitivo Cappelletti, Carpano Antica Formula vermouth, Peychaud’s bitters

The mixologist says: I wanted to recreate the mushroom cloud and I wanted to stay as close to a classic cocktail as possible. It has similar specs to a Metronome cocktail.

What does it taste like? Deep and woody, with a funky nose that mellows out as the smoke-filled bubble pops, this stiff drink should be sipped slowly to savour its complex ingredients. Extremely full-bodied, possibly not for everyone, but definitely worth a try.

Drink this if you like: Negronis

Available until: July 31