Cinematical

I might have gone with Red Stripe, myself, or maybe even an English brewery, but Heineken, which is based in Amsterdam, is the chosen beer sponsor for the new Bond pic, Casino Royale. Wait, let's back track a second. You're probably wondering why there would even be a beer sponsor when James Bond famously drinks martinis, shaken not stirred. Well, in Ian Fleming's original novel, he drinks beer. Yes, he also drinks martinis, but in the novel he orders one by saying, "A dry martini. One. In a deep champagne goblet." He goes on to tell the bartender how to make it, including the shaking part, but otherwise the catch phrase didn't arrive until the later novel Diamonds are Forever.

Anyway, back to the subject of beer, which is definitely a subject I prefer. Aside from Heineken merely having a promotional partnership with the film (I have no idea if this means Bond drinks Heinies on screen), the brewery has been given access to the Casino Royale set, where Oscar-winner Stephen Gaghan has directed a beer commercial starring Bond-girl Eva Green.

Unfortunately, Heineken will not be remaking James Bond's 007 Special Blend (oh JoBlo, you had me so confused!), which was a mix of beer and malt liquor put out by The National Brewing Company between 1965 and 1966 without any licensing authorization.