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Since first appearing as child prodigy doctor Doogie Howser more than 30 years ago, Neil Patrick Harris has been gracing the small screen and the big screen for decades. Whether it’s in series like How I Met Your Mother or A Series of Unfortunate Events or films like Smurfs or Gone Girl, Harris has become one of the most recognizable faces and bankable stars.
As Harris celebrates his 48th birthday on June 15, there’s no better time to revisit some of his greatest performances throughout his career. And when watching him play either Barney Stinson, Patrick Winslow, or even himself, having a drink in hand will go well with watching his best shows and films. Here are six bourbons from Boozy’s large selection that are best paired with some of Harris’ most memorable shows and films:
1. Maker's Mark - How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014)
Image from How I Met Your Mother’s Facebook Page
Harris has had many roles over the years in film and on TV, but he is perhaps best known as Barney Stinson, a womanizing playboy and one of Ted Mosby’s best friends in the sitcom How I Met Your Mother. Whether it’s one of the many plays in his playbook or his catchphrases, there are many aspects of Stinson’s character that fans remember as a sign of his enduring popularity. But aside from being a comedy, How I Met Your Mother was also able to balance drama and romance throughout its run.
Image from Maker’s Mark’s Facebook Page
Similarly, a drink that would go well with rewatching his iconic performance as Barney Stinson would be the Maker’s Mark, which also boasts of being able to balance different aromas and tastes to create a premium bourbon. The drink balances aromas of woody oak, caramel, vanilla, and wheat, while also having the right blend of caramel, vanilla, and fruity essences for a smooth and subtle finish. For a show that deftly handled comedy, drama, and romances, a drink that also balances different aromas and tastes seems like the perfect pairing.
2. Jim Beam White - The Smurfs (2011)
In terms of its popularity, the status of The Smurfs is unquestioned, as they are among the most recognizable cartoon characters in pop culture. So it came as no surprise that the comic series was eventually turned into a film, which was released in 2011 and became a box office success. In The Smurfs, the characters get lost in New York and need to get home before they are caught by the evil wizard Gargamel, their longtime enemy. Along the way, they end up in the apartment of Patrick and Grace Winslow, with the former being played by Harris.
A drink that also has unquestioned popularity is the Jim Beam White, which is considered as the world’s number one selling bourbon. Distilled in Kentucky in the US, this drink has a sweet aroma with gentle notes of vanilla and cut hay, among others. It is medium-bodied and mellow on the palate with hints of caramel and vanilla, with its four years of aging in American white oak barrels giving it a distinct taste. While enjoying Harris’ performance in this comedy film, having a popular and quality drink like Jim Beam White would be a good combination.
3. Buffalo Trace Bourbon - Gone Girl (2015)
Unlike Harris’ other performances on this list, his role as in David Fincher’s 2014 film Gone Girl is a dramatic one and was one of many impressive turns in this psychological thriller. Harris stars as Desi Collings, an ex-boyfriend of Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike), whom she manipulates as part of her plan to frame her husband Nick (Ben Affleck) for her murder. The film is complex and will have you on the edge of your seat, and some scenes will stay with you even after the credits roll.
As such, a perfect companion while watching a film as complex as Gone Girl would be the Buffalo Trace Bourbon, which has been described as having a taste that is complex and rich and a finish that lingers on the palate. This bourbon is distilled at the most award-winning distillery in the world and made from the finest corn, rye, and barley malt, giving you a high-quality drink to go with this excellently crafted film.
4. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Bourbon - The Smurfs 2 (2013)
Sequels rarely match or surpass the original films, but The Smurfs 2, which was released in 2013, was able to do that. The film focuses on the character Smurfette, voiced by Katy Perry, who is kidnapped by their nemesis Gargamel due to her knowledge of a spell that can turn Smurf-like creatures named Naughties into real Smurfs. When the Smurfs team up to rescue her, their human allies, including Harris’ Patrick Winslow, decide to help them.
With this sequel being almost if not more satisfying than the film that preceded it, it’s only fitting that The Smurfs 2 be watched with a satisfying drink in hand. The Woodford Reserve
Kentucky Bourbon is comprised of more than 200 detectable flavor notes, including bold grain and wood to aromatics, spice, and fruit and floral notes. It has a rich, chewy, rounded, and smooth taste, and a creamy, long, and satisfying finish, making it the ideal drink to have when enjoying this lighthearted film.
5. Bulleit Bourbon - Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)
The plot of Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, the first film in the Harold & Kumar series, seems simple enough. The two main characters want to eat at White Castle after smoking marijuana. But along the way, they run into all sorts of misadventures, including meeting Harris, who plays a fictionalized version of himself and gives the pair some trouble. These twists and turns in their journey spice up the film and make it a memorable comedy that spawned several sequel films.
With an especially high rye content, the Bulleit Bourbon also has spice like this film and is bold and clean with a smooth finish. With tasting notes of rye, orange, maple, vanilla, oak, and caramel, sipping on a glass of this drink can be as surprising as the misadventures of Harold & Kumar in this film, which includes their encounter with Harris’ character.
6. Evan Williams Bourbon Whisky - Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008)
The Evan Williams Bourbon Whisky is named after Evan Williams, who opened the first commercial distillery in Kentucky in 1783. This drink uses a tried and tested formula based on five or seven-year bourbons that are rich, smooth, and full of character. Having a sip of this bourbon will be quite an adventure for one’s senses, as it gives aromas of deep vanilla and mint and a taste of oak, brown sugar, and caramel.
Image from Evan Williams Bourbon’s Facebook
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, the sequel to Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, also provided its audiences with an adventure when it was released in 2008. After being imprisoned at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, the characters Harold & Kumar escape the facility. And just like the original, the sequel has a simple plot made complicated by the characters’ misadventures, including another run-in with Harris, who again plays an exaggerated version of himself. While having a laugh at this film and this Harris performance, you can enjoy it with a bourbon that will definitely be a treat for your nose and palate.
With a film and TV spanning decades, Neil Patrick Harris has plenty of memorable roles that have made a mark on audiences. The actor’s birthday is a good time to rewatch some of these roles while having the best-selling bourbon from Boozy’s large selection of drinks.
