Netflix Night? What to Order Instead of Defaulting to Wine

There will be a point in time when everyone in almost all homes will inquire of one another around 8 p.m., “Do you want to uncork a bottle of wine?” This is indeed a very good question. But then again, it is just a reaction to the same old question, “What do you want to drink while we watch some show?” Since it is a reaction, it does not maximise the fullness of the situation. It is high time that one should get out of the rut. Drinking consciously will add more character than the same old reaction. 

One does not need a Pinot Noir every day. There will be times when a person would like a beverage that packs more punch, and other times when one requires a lighter taste. Moreover, there might be days when all one wants is something visually appealing to hold during streaming. Thus, the following is a tiny act of defiance. Next time the Netflix date comes around, don’t go for the usual wine cliché. Select a beverage that perfectly suits what you are going to watch. The cocktails that you will want to have are the following.

For the Prestige Drama: Pour Something Slow

What we are talking about is Succession, Better Call Saul, and The Bear. Programs that have you following three plots, two betrayals, and one gutting monologue a week. These shows take effort, and they need something in your hand that will make you pause. Time for the bourbon. One pour, neat or with a single big chunk of ice, of something substantial, like a wheat-based bourbon such as a Weller Special Reserve, or even the allocation if you’re feeling rich. This isn’t about guzzling. This is about having something to sip on that makes you pause before another sip, much like the show makes you pause between scenes.

Pairing tip: Skip the popcorn. Salted Marcona almonds or a small piece of dark chocolate is the move. It’s a grown-up snack for a grown-up show.

For the Comedy: Go Light and Crushable

Two hours of comedy specials like Schitt’s Creek, Abbott Elementary, or whatever Pedro Pascal does next is no time to worry about the drink that goes along with them. You will feel like having a simple, refreshing cocktail and not a big, spirit-fueled one that will make you drunk before the episode is over. Here comes a highball cocktail. A drink that is easy to prepare (two ingredients, whisky and soda in an ice-filled glass or blanco tequila and grapefruit soda, the fastest of the paloma) to enjoy at your own speed, when you have a show on.

The one simple recipe you will never overthink: Two ounces of either Toki or Suntory whisky into a tall glass, add ice, and then pour in some soda. A lemon peel for those fancy moments.

For the Documentary: Try Something With a Story

But the real wisdom comes when you sit through crime documentaries, documentaries about food, or the newest documentary about some obscure rock band. Then you want the cocktail to go along. Pick yourself up something with some history behind it that you would have something to talk about later with your buddies. And mezcal is what you need here. Mezcal made in one Mexican village exclusively and without any mixing and poured into the glass at room temperature is not merely alcohol but is an essential part of the narration. 

You taste the essence of the agave plant that grew for 8 years in that village, cooked in underground ovens, and fermented out in the open air. You already know everything about your beverage and bottle shop, even before you turn on your documentary. Or, on the contrary, if you do not fancy mezcal at all, choose another drink, a single malt Scotch produced by some distillery in less well-known islands (such as Springbank or Kilkerran).

For the Rewatch Comfort Show: Make It Familiar

And now this is what we are talking about. There has been a long working day, and you are exhausted, you’ve had enough of people, and you simply want to relax on your couch in front of the TV. And your options include watching The Office, Parks and Recreation or anything else that can serve you well after work in the cosiness of your room. And what you are not supposed to do in such a situation is to think. 

This means the drink you prepare has to be as well. So it should be a well-known drink that does not require much effort from your part and rewards you for it. And this is how you make an old-fashioned. You take two ounces of bourbon, put a sugar cube, two dashes of bitters, an orange peel and an ice cube into a glass and stir for 30 seconds.

For the Horror or Thriller: Bring the Bite

Jump scare horror, such as “The Haunting of Hill House,” “Mindhunter,” or anything directed by Mike Flanagan, calls for something a little stronger than water. Something to keep you mentally sharp. Too much bourbon does not work; rye neat does. Rye hits harder than bourbon, which makes it spicier and less sweet, and the sting makes you take notice. A show that demands your complete attention would be paired with something that will help you stay in that same state. 

For instance, a Rittenhouse or Sazerac bottle saved just for the occasion works perfectly with a show that keeps you on edge. Both stimulate the nervous system similarly. However, in the case when a cocktail suits better, a Sazerac will work great. It contains ingredients such as rye, sugar, Peychaud’s bitters, and absinthe rinse.

How to Actually Have These on Hand

This is because it is easier to find these drinks at the same time in your liquor cabinet. Why? This is because it is about convenience when drinking while watching movies on Netflix. If it means going out of your way to buy liquor to enjoy yourself, then there is nothing easy about that. This is exactly what online alcohol purchasing is all about.  A good online liquor store ships a customised selection straight to your doorstep, allowing you to keep the kinds of wines that make it feasible for you to watch a movie spontaneously without even considering what to drink. Just get two bottles of wine that you would not usually buy, let them sit on your shelves, and when asked, “What are we going to drink while watching movies?” you will have an actual answer.

A few tips for stocking smart:

• Buy two of one thing, not one of five things. A bottle you love is better than five bottles you’re “trying.”
• Mix categories. One bourbon, one tequila, one mezcal or rye, one Japanese whisky. That covers ninety per cent of mood-based pours.
• Don’t sleep on allocations. Sites like Country Wine & Spirits carry hard-to-find bottles that don’t make it to local shelves,  Weller, Blanton’s, single-village mezcal — and shipping arrives in a few days. Stock up when something good drops, not when you’re already on the couch.

The secret to elevating Netflix sessions isn’t in the beverage itself but rather in the idea of not playing it safe. Having a beer bottle is great, but it’s also an easy solution, and easy solutions often lack interest. Spend ten minutes on a Sunday afternoon putting together a variety of three to four beers that match your moods, one for days where you feel light and relaxed, another for those nights that call for something bolder, and once a Netflix streaming schedule comes around with a plethora of options, you’ll already be prepared with a drink that complements the content you’ve chosen. Upgraded couch time, sans corkscrew.