The Cocktail Idris Elba and Jessica Chastain Sipped On at TIFF
It’s fizzy and full of champagne and vodka.
The moment an invite to Molly’s Game—an Aaron Sorkin film based on the true story of Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain), a former Olympic skier turned underground high-stakes poker kingpin—post-premiere cocktail party landed in my mailbox a day before TIFF commenced, I RSVP’d yes immediately. I needed to see Idris Elba, in his tall, dark, and potentially, maybe, oh-please-god-make-it-true future James Bond glory in real life—even if there were eight equally vying editors and film industry folk between us. And it was worth it. As Grey Goose cocktails and tiny bites weaved between the crowd, the cast mingled in a private room at The Citizen in Toronto. Since we couldn’t let the night end without a little memento, we got our hands on the fizzy champagne cocktail everyone was sipping all night long to bring to you.
FRENCH 96
Created by: Isaac Viner, Byblos
Ingredients:
1 1⁄2 parts Grey Goose Vodka
1⁄2 part Domaine du Canton Ginger Liqueur
1⁄4 part fresh lemon juice
1⁄4 part simple syrup
2 parts Champagne
candied lemon zest (candied lemon zest is lemon rind, baked and cooled covered in sugar)
Directions:
1. Add all ingredients except champagne into a shaker with ice.
2. Shake and strain into a martini cocktail glass.
3. Add champagne and candied lemon zest.
