Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

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Bond: “To you.”
Paris: “No, to the gun.”

Overview: James Bond takes on international media baron Elliot Carver, bringing the villain’s scheme to conquer the Chinese television market to a grinding halt. The film features one of the greatest drinking scenes in the entire series.

What does Bond drink?

• During the scene where Bond is “studying” under his Danish tutor at Oxford, two glasses of champagne are sitting on a desk. An ice bucket with a bottle of champagne (presumably Bollinger) is on the floor.
• During the briefing in M’s limousine, both she and 007 are holding large highball glasses, which we can safely assume contain her favorite drink, bourbon.
• When Bond talks with Paris at the Carver Media Group Network launch party in Hamburg, the waiter asks her if she’d like something to drink. She instructs him, “Mr. Bond will have a vodka martini, shaken, not stirred.” Bond then orders for her, saying “Mrs. Carver will have a tequila, straight shot.” Paris refuses, saying “No, Mrs. Carver will have a glass of Mr. Carver’s champagne.” The drinks arrive as Paris asks, “Tell me James, do you still sleep with a gun under your pillow?” They both take their drinks from a silver tray and Bond raises his glass, saying “To you.” Paris replies, “No, to the gun.” They clink their glasses and drink.
• In one of the most effective moments in the entire series, Bond sits alone in his room at the Atlantic hotel, waiting for Carver to retaliate. As the scene opens, he downs a straight shot of vodka, and then refills the glass from a bottle of Smirnoff Red. As he waits, 007 methodically attaches a silencer to his Walther. Later, after Paris lets herself into Bond’s room, he knocks back another shot, picks up the bottle and pours another drink as he walks around to the right side of his bed (placing the bottle prominently on the nightstand). Paris says, “Do you know I used to look in the papers every day for your obituary?” When Bond replies, “Well, I’m sorry to keep disappointing you,” he downs the shot and throws the glass to the floor. While we only see Bond drink three shots, it’s implied that he’s had quite a few more (the bottle of vodka appears to be about half-empty).
• When Bond returns to his hotel room after breaking into Carver’s secret lab, a champagne bottle in an ice bucket can be seen on a dining cart in the hallway.

It’s not just for happy hour anymore: During the rooftop motorcycle chase in Saigon, Bond returns the bike to street level by using a parked truck (carrying cases of Heineken beer) as a ramp. Predictably, individual cans fly in every direction. Several kegs of Heineken are seen when the motorcycle briefly skids.

Other people’s drinks:

• At Carver’s party in Hamburg, a number of guests are seen with glasses of champagne.
• When Bond sees Paris’ obituary on the television in his hotel suite, her picture shows her holding a glass of champagne.

Other observations: Although it’s hard to believe, Sheryl Crow’s “Tomorrow Never Dies” becomes the first Bond theme song to mention 007’s favorite beverage, with the line “Martinis, girls and guns.”

Product placement: The bottle of Smirnoff Red vodka is displayed prominently several times, and Brosnan even moves it to the nightstand so it can be seen when the focus shifts from the chair to the bed. Cases and kegs of Heineken beer are featured in one stunt during the motorcycle chase. Bollinger gets a plug during the closing credits.

By the book: Ian who?

Total: Six. A glass of champagne, a bourbon, a vodka martini and three shots of straight vodka.