‘Reservoir Dogs’ and 4 Ways to Drink a Boilermaker!

The Movie: Crime / 1992 / Lionsgate Films

The Drink: The Boilermaker cocktail; use any beer you’re fine dropping shots of liquor into.

I watched Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs for the first time ever in late February (despite it being nearly 30 years old, but I digress), and it was one of those films that stuck my head for weeks. Despite low production value, the level of nuance in the film’s writing, dialogue and characters is nothing short of astounding.

For the uninitiated, Reservoir Dogs is an in medias res heist film, beginning in the middle of the story. Unlike others of the same genre, this film is not about the action of the heist; it is about the story of the heist. Now, go watch, enjoy, and add “American classic” to your movie-watching vocabulary.

This brings us to today’s drink of choice: the Boilermaker. According to legend, blue collar workers in the 19th Century ordered a shot of whiskey with a beer to cope with the pain of a hard day’s shift. The drink’s name refers to those who would build, maintain and service steam locomotives. Even so, many still debate the origin of the drink to this day, along with how the Boilermaker is meant to be consumed.

To decide which kind of Boilermaker is right for you, look at the four mainstay characters of Reservoir Dogs: Mr. Pink (Steve Buscemi), Mr. Orange/Freddy (Tim Roth), Mr. Blonde/Vic Vega (Michael Madsen), and Mr. White/Larry (Harvey Keitel).

There’s a different way of drinking this beer-cocktail that suits each!

The Mr. Pink

A bomb shot, where one drops a shot glass of whiskey into a pint of beer before knocking it back. Mr. Pink just wants to get paid and leave as soon as they finish the job. The bomb shot is a no-frills, no-nonsense method to take the Boilermaker and captures Pink’s simple and direct temperament approach to the robbery and his partners.

The Mr. Orange

A stirred cocktail, where one pours and stirs the whiskey into the beer. Unlike the others, Mr. Orange is (spoiler alert) an undercover cop who slowly works to establish himself among a group of career criminals. The liquor eventually blends with the beer and the resulting combination becomes something that resembles its parts, but takes on a completely different profile, just as Orange begins to lose himself as he gets in too deep with the heist crew.

The Mr. Blonde

A shooter and chaser, where one downs the shot in one go and follows it with the beer. Mr. Blonde took the proverbial shot and spent time behind bars for not selling out his boss. Even after leaving prison, he insists on returning to a life of crime. Beer, compared to straight liquor, is a smooth, easy drink, and reflects on his laid-back yet methodical nature.

The Mr. White

A sipper, where one takes alternating sips between the two drinks. While neck-deep in the criminal world, Mr. White retains his humanity while tending to a wounded Mr. Orange. He even goes as far as defending Orange when he’s accused of being a mole. The switch from beer to whiskey and back is fitting for Mr. White, who is conflicted between his commitment to the heist and to his injured friend.

The best aspects of the beer and whiskey feed into each other, revealing a complex flavor profile that is best described as “boozy beer.” There are no official Boilermaker recipes, so drink it however you want. Remember: Beer + Shot of Liquor = Boilermaker. Remember though: drink responsibly. No one wants a first-year thief, they want a professional. Otherwise, you may end up getting tagged in the gut like Mr. Orange.

*Recommended Beer and Booze Combos*

• Umlaut (Festbier / 5.8% ABV / Tribus Beer Co. – Milford, CT) with Canadian Club (Canadian Whisky / 40% ABV / Beam Suntory, Inc.)
• Angry Orchard Crisp Apple Cider (Cider / 5.0% ABV / Angry Orchard Cider Co. – Walden, NY) with Wild Turkey Honey Sting (Bourbon / 35.5% ABV / Wild Turkey Distilling Co.)
• Two Juicy (NEIPA / 8.2% ABV / Two Roads Brewing Co. – Stratford, CT) with Nautical (Gin / 42% ABV / Vertical Spirits, LLC.)
• Guinness Draught (Irish Dry Stout / 5.6% ABV / Guinness – Saint James’ Gate, Leinster Ireland) with Jameson (Irish Whiskey / 40% ABV / Irish Distillers, Pernod Ricard)
• Guinness Draught (Irish Dry Stout / 5.6% ABV / Guinness – Saint James’ Gate, Leinster Ireland) with Ryan’s Irish Cream (Cream Liqueur / 17% ABV / Sazerac Company, Inc.)