I have loved The Thin Man movies since I was a teen, watching them on Bill Kennedy at the Movies on WKBD. So when I decided to throw a cocktail party, I was inspired by Nick & Nora Charles and the 1930s.

The Nick & Nora Glass

Since becoming interested in making cocktails at home, I’ve also developed a fondness for Nick & Nora stemmed cocktail glasses. The Nick & Nora glass takes its name from the cocktail-loving Nick and Nora Charles of The Thin Man movies. In the 1980s, legendary bartender Dale DeGroff helped revive this style of glassware while working at the Rainbow Room in New York City, drawing inspiration from the elegant stemmed glasses used in the films.

Unlike a traditional V-shaped martini glass, the Nick & Nora has a smaller, rounded bowl and narrower opening. This helps concentrate the cocktail’s aromas and makes the glass less prone to spilling. The smaller size is also great when you want to taste-test more than one cocktail!

I have several variations that we use for our Saturday night cocktails, some found at local thrift stores.

The Cocktail List

Continuing with the 1930s theme, I chose cocktails from or inspired by that era, including the Aviation, Sidecar and Bee’s Knees.

A printed cocktail menu presented the cocktail choices for the evening, including the ingredients for each drink. Experimenting was encouraged with guests able to ask for a small tasting portion or regular-sized cocktail.

Sparkling Cocktails

Both white and red sparkling wine were available. Guests could also choose from two popular sparkling cocktails:

French 75 — Gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and sparkling wine.

Kir Royale — Crème de cassis topped with sparkling wine.

Gin Cocktails

Nick & Nora Martini — Gin, dry vermouth and a dash of orange bitters, finished with a lemon twist.

Aviation — Gin, lemon juice, maraschino liqueur and crème de violette.

Clover Club — Gin, lemon juice, raspberry syrup and egg white.

Lavender Bee’s Knees — Gin, lemon juice, lavender-jasmine syrup and a little honey syrup.

Whiskey and Cognac Cocktails

Sidecar — Cognac, Cointreau and lemon juice.

Old Fashioned — Rye whiskey, simple syrup and Angostura bitters, served over a large ice cube with an orange garnish.

Whiskey Sour — Rye whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup, Angostura bitters and egg white.

Without the Spirits

I also included a couple of non-alcoholic choices that still felt in theme for the evening:

Shirley Temple — Ginger ale, grenadine and a little fresh lime juice, garnished with a cherry.

Raspberry Fizz — Raspberry syrup, fresh lemon juice and soda water.

Setting the Scene

The decor for the evening was fairly simple:

• Nick & Nora cocktail glasses & vintage coupes
• A printed Art Deco inspired invitation and cocktail menu
• A 1930s playlist provided background music
• The Thin Man movies were projected (without sound) on a large wall
• Art Deco inspired napkins
• Silver and glass serving dishes for the hors d’oeuvres

Although dressing up wasn’t required, most guests embraced the theme and came dressed in vintage-inspired clothing. The women wore sleek long dresses or pants, wraps, elegant accessories while some of the men came with suspenders with white shirts or smoking jackets.

I also planned the appetizer menu with the 1930s in mind, combining several vintage-inspired options with some more modern, but simple, options:

• Devilled Eggs
• Smoked Salmon on Pumpernickel Crisps
• Mini BLT Éclairs
• Roasted Root Vegetable Skewers with Maple Glaze
• Roast Beef Crostini with Balsamic Red Onion and Horseradish Crème
• Mini Beef Wellingtons
• Portobello Mushroom and Thyme Tartlets
• Lemon Garlic Shrimp Skewers
• Baked Pear and Brie Mini Grilled Cheese with Aged Cheddar

This was rounded out with chocolate chip cookies and mini cheesecakes for dessert.

The Cocktail Party Is Worth Bringing Back

There’s something appealing about gathering friends for cocktails and good food without the structure of a formal dinner. The evening combined the elegance of classic cocktails with the relaxed pleasure of spending time with good friends.

I’m not sure what my next inspiration will be, but I’m looking forward to it.