Beer and The Bear? Champagne and Schitt’s Creek? We pair some of our favourite drinks to the most watchable series.
We know it’s cold out, so we don’t blame you for staying in this weekend. For the ultimate staycation, you’re going to need a few things. First up, something queued up on the TV. We know the many streaming services can be overwhelming and expensive, so we’ve done all the hard work for you. We’ve got a psychological thriller, dramedy, straight-up comedy, dark humour, something for the reality fans and you know we love a little drama. You could say we’ve covered every corner of the small screen.
Struggling to settle on what to watch? Chuck all the names in a hat (or bowl) and let chance do its thing. And in good news, we’ve paired every TV show to an ideal drink, so you only have to make one hard decision (but we’ll leave the snack selection up to you).
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1. ‘Schitt’s Creek’ and Zhampagne
Oops, we mean Champagne. Schitt’s Creek is one of the greatest sitcoms of the past decade. Now, if you haven’t seen the 80 episodes of comedic brilliance (PSA it may take more than one weekend to work through the six seasons), you can absolutely make a decent dent in the series over a few days.
Schitt’s Creek was created by father-and-son duo Eugene and Dan Levy (who play Johnny and David Rose in the show). Johnny is a video store tycoon, his wife, Moira, a star of the small screen, and their kids David and Alexis, well, they’re spoiled adult children. In the pilot, the Roses (as you’ll come to know and love them) lose everything. They’re plucked from their mansion, left with not much more than the clothes on their backs, and dropped at a motel in a very small town called Schitt’s Creek. “Ew, David!”
If you’re a long-time fan, you’ll know Zhampagne is their low-budget drink of choice, but we’re giving you the real thing, so grab a bottle of Billecart-Salmon Le Reserve Champagne NV. We’re staying in for the weekend, so we can afford to go a little special on the bubbles, right? A blend of pinot meunier, chardonnay and pinot noir, Le Réserve is a light style. It’s packed with aromas of stone fruit and, as you sip, you’ll notice flavours of apple, crisp pear and citrus.
Where to watch: Netflix
2. ‘The Bear’ and a beer
Yes, Chef! We know we don’t realllly need to say anymore, but we will. If you’ve seen The Bear (and we’re sure you have), you know how easy it is to be talked into a rewatch (I think I’ve seen the ‘Forks’ episode six times). If you haven’t, you’re lucky because you get to watch this masterpiece for the first time. In its three seasons, The Bear has won close to 30 awards. And best of all, season four is not far away, so this is the perfect time to catch up (or give yourself a refresher).
But get ready for chaos. Set in Chicago, The Bear follows the high-pressure world of a family-owned Italian beef sandwich shop. Carmy is the brilliant, award-winning chef who leaves his Michelin-starred, fine-dining career in NYC and comes home to run The Original Beef of Chicagoland. Again, we won't say more than that. You have to watch it. The Bear is lauded for its realistic portrayal (read: intense) of a restaurant kitchen, not to mention the acting and soundtrack. *Chef’s kiss*
You might be wondering what that pink drink is they're always slinging around in this show. That's Pepto-Bismol, but you won't find any of that here; instead, we're serving the OG Creature – the Little Creatures Pale Ale. It's got citrus, stone fruits like nectarine, plus burnt toffee and a kick of bitterness. The OG is available in a bottle or can, but today the bottle is speaking to us – just don’t forget your bottle opener.
Where to watch: Disney+
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Ah, road rage, we’ve all been there (we’re only human). BEEF follows two strangers – an unfulfilled entrepreneur (Ali Wong) and a down-and-out contractor (Steven Yeun) – who become intertwined after a minor road rage incident. Over 10 eps, petty revenge turns into destructive chaos until it spirals completely out of control. We won’t say more than that. This is dark, dark comedy at its best. It bagged a slew of awards, too, including a Golden Globe for Best Television Limited Series. The anthology-style show was almost immediately renewed for season two – we’re talking fresh meat for fresh BEEF.
BEEF’s genius is its exploration of consequences, and genius recognises genius, so we have to pair back-to-back episodes with the Bloody Mary. This brunch-time classic is vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco sauce garnished with celery sticks, lemon slices and skewered stuffed green olives.
Where to watch: Netflix
4. ‘Shrinking’ and a Long Island Iced Tea
Shrinking comes from the creator of Scrubs and Ted Lasso, so you just know it’s going to be good. It’s the story of therapist Jimmy Laird (Jason Segel), who is struggling with grief following the death of his wife. In the depths of his grief, while also raising his teenage daughter, Jimmy abandons all professional ethics and hands out unfiltered advice. The show is bolstered by Harrison Ford’s outstanding portrayal of Paul Rhoades – Jimmy’s mentor and senior therapist. He’s gruff, sarcastic and it’s no secret he’s everyone’s favourite character. Shrinking is chaotic, hilarious and a feel-good show (even if it is about death).
To go with it? The Captain Morgan Long Island Iced Tea is a convenient, canned take on the classic (which you may also know as a LIIT). While a Long Island Iced Tea traditionally combines vodka, gin, rum, tequila and triple sec, this canned Captain Morgan heroes its Original Spiced Gold (spiced rum). With rum front and centre, instead of packing in the four other spirits, the team has emulated the flavours of a Long Island Iced Tea, before topping up with that famous lemony cola.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
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5. ‘Fleabag’ and a G&T
British comedy. Dark comedy. Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Need we say more? Fleabag is the story of, well, Fleabag. The wit is sharp, the honesty is raw and the themes are real life – grief, family dysfunction, friendships, loneliness, sexuality and the classic self-destruction. Written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag is based on her one-woman show that she first performed in 2013 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Three years later, the TV show premiered. Set in London, Fleabag is an unfiltered, dry-witted woman who runs a guinea pig-themed cafe while navigating life, love and loss.
Fleabag’s drink of choice is a G&T, usually in a can, but, today, we’re making our own. Grab a bottle of the Four Pillars Fresh Yuzu Gin, which started as a limited-edition gin and became so popular it took up a permanent place on the Four Pillars shelf. It’s a bright, fresh, dry gin that’s made with locally grown yuzu. Expect yuzu’s flavours of lemon, lime, mandarin and cumquat, along with sencha genmaicha (a tea blend), ginger, turmeric, juniper, coriander, angelica, lavender and lemon myrtle. We’re going to need a good-quality tonic, and it’s hard to go past the Capi Dry Tonic with its unique dry finish. If you are after a "gin in a tin" then you can always reach for the Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin & Tonic Cans.
Where to watch: Prime
6. ‘Selling Sunset’ and a dry red
Alright, here’s the need-to-know on Selling Sunset. The Oppenheim Group is a high-end real estate brokerage that sells some serious houses up and down LA. And while we do watch Selling Sunset for the real estate and the commission, we also watch it for the real estate agents’ friendships (maybe a few rivalries) and the fashion. It’s glam, it’s luxe, it’s dramatic and it’s so watchable. There are eight seasons on Netflix and you can pretty much pick up from anywhere and get the gist.
You’ll find no Oppenheim wine here – instead, we’ve spoiled you with Vasse Felix’s Classic Dry Red. This is a shiraz-dominant blend that comes from Margaret River (depending on the vintage, it might be 100% shiraz or there could be a splash of cabernet or pinot in there, too). The fruit-forward red is made to be opened in its youth. You can expect aromas of raspberry jam, a touch of vanilla and even Swiss cheese – in a good way. And you’ll taste flavours like fresh raspberry and satsuma plum. When you’re completely hooked and desperate for more Selling Sunset, be sure to give Selling the OC a go.
Where to watch: Netflix
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We’re going to need something strong for this one. Severance is equal parts genius and unsettling. It’s a psychological thriller where work-life balance is taken to the extreme. The series is built around Mark Scout (Adam Scott) and fellow employees from Lumon Industries who have undergone medical procedures known as ‘severance’ to surgically split their memories between work and life – the two don’t cross over. At work, they’re on the severed floor (and referred to as ‘innies’), and when the day is over, they become ‘outies’ and have no memory of their work day. It’s a mind meld, but totally worth it.
So, something strong? It has to be the Classic Martini. We like ours with gin, dry vermouth and a lemon twist (duh), but you can, of course, opt for the Vodka Martini or even a Dirty Martini. The Martini has two ingredients (give or take the olive brine), so there’s nowhere to hide. What does that mean? Quality spirits only. And make sure you chill your coupe – thank us later.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
