Ten: Scream (1996)

12 years and 8 movies after Freddy blessed our screens (and hearts), Wes Craven began his exit from the horror genre. This was until a brash young boy approached him and accused him of “going soft.” Wes must have laughed at that naïve child before punching him square in his stupid little face.

This sparked something in Craven, immediately going on the search for his next terrifying project. And what was that project you ask?

Scream: A movie so meta that the movie sequels have a movie within the movie about the original movie and this movie within the movie is the motivation for the killings within the respective movie. Follow? Me either.

The subject of Scream is one that could be discussed ad nauseum. We could look at the process of getting the iconic mask on screen, the endless gauntlet that was Scene 118, or Matthew Lillard in general. What a cool guy. One of its most unique features, though, was Ghostface’s first (on screen) kill.

By the time she was signed onto the production, Drew Barrymore already had a resume that most actors could only dream of. E.T., Batman Forever, and Wayne’s World 2 to name a few. When she was offered literally any role in Scream, she specifically chose the role of Casey Becker, the opening character of the film. Casey receives a cute little phone call shortly after the movie begins that results in her untimely and gruesome death.

12 minutes.

It took Wes Craven 12 minutes to kill off Hollywood’s golden child. This was ultimately one of the biggest driving factors in this film's success. Barrymore was heavily featured in the billboards, the trailers, and all of the advertisements for the movie. The immediate twist drove audiences crazy in the most profound way.

Before we talk about the drink, I have to say my favorite fact in regard to Scream: When the characters were on the phone with Ghostface, Craven had the actual voice actor call the actors from another room and do the lines. They had no idea who (or what) they were talking to, as Craven didn’t allow any of the actors to meet the voice actor until the film wrapped.

Enough of my rambling. Let’s talk cocktails. I wanted this drink to pay homage to little miss Casey Becker in as many ways as possible. If you’ve seen Scream, you are well aware that Casey makes herself stove top Jiffy Pop and burns the life out of it. Being stabbed to death is not a good excuse for burning perfectly good popcorn. A quick Google search let me know that Drew Barrymore’s favorite cocktail is a delicious concoction called a Pink Greyhound. Taking this all into consideration, I give you the tenth of thirteen:

I’m Feeling a Little Boozy

• 1.5 oz Blueberry & Lavender Infused Gin*

• 0.75 oz Rosemary Syrup**

• 0.75 oz Grapefruit Juice

• Fresh Rosemary

In a shaker, combine Blueberry & Lavender Infused Gin, Rosemary Syrup, and Grapefruit Juice. Shake over ice and double strain into a Coupe Glass. As a memento to her tragically burnt popcorn, garnish with Flamed Rosemary.

*In a container, combine a bottle of Gin with a container of blueberries. Muddle the blueberries and allow them to macerate for 2 days. After the 2 days, add 2 tablespoons of food grade lavender and allow the gin to sit for another 2 days. Throughout this process, stir the mixture at least once a day. After everything has been given ample time to infuse, strain out the contents and enjoy.

**In a pot, combine ¼ cup of sugar and ¼ cup of water. Bring to a simmer and add 3-5 sprigs of Rosemary. Simmer for another 5-10 minutes and then allow to cool before removing the sprigs of Rosemary.