Taylor Swift’s Whiskey Sour Inspiration: A Cooking Show Moment Resonates Years Later

Taylor Swift’s Whiskey Sour Inspiration: A Cooking Show Moment Resonates Years Later

Ina Garten, the beloved celebrity chef and host of Food Network’s “Be My Guest,” recently reminisced about a cooking show moment that influenced one of Taylor Swift’s most talked-about songs. In 2014, during a shoot for Food Network Magazine, Garten made the pop star her first whiskey sour. This chance encounter led to an unexpected connection in music years later.

Ina Garten shared this story with PEOPLE while discussing the upcoming season of “Be My Guest,” which premieres on October 19, 2025. The chef explained that during a shoot for Food Network Magazine, she and Swift were preparing a pavlova together when the conversation turned to cocktails.

A Moment of Inspiration

“So what happened was we were on the shoot and we were making a pavlova together,” Garten recalled. “We were putting this together, and I don’t know how it even came up, we were talking about cocktails. It was like 11 o’clock in the morning, and I said, my favorite cocktail’s a whiskey sour. And she said, ‘Oh, I’ve never had one.'”

Garten then asked her assistant to get a pitcher from the refrigerator, and by 11:30 a.m., the two were enjoying their first whiskey sours while continuing to work on the pavlova.

Swift’s Musical Reference

The pop star’s reference to the cocktail in “CANCELLED!” was not lost on Garten. The song, which is part of Swift’s new album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” features the lines: “Good thing I like my friends cancelled / I like ’em cloaked in Gucci and in scandal / Like my whiskey sour / And poison thorny flowers.” While Garten couldn’t confirm whether her first whiskey sour was indeed the inspiration, she expressed hope that it might be.

“She inspires all of us, so I’m glad if I inspire her a little bit, that’d be great,” Garten said. The chef’s admiration for Swift is mutual; Taylor has praised Ina’s shows and how they changed her perspective on cooking.

A Legacy in Cooking

In an interview with Food Network Magazine to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Barefoot Contessa, Swift shared that she was a teenager when she first discovered Ina’s TV show. “On my rare days off at home, I barely ever cooked because it had always felt like a chore,” she said. “Watching Ina prepare a meal changed my perspective on cooking and reframed it as something relaxing.” For Swift, cooking became an escape from stress, and she remains grateful to Garten for this transformation.

The collaboration between Ina Garten and Taylor Swift showcases the enduring impact of culinary inspiration across generations and mediums. As Garten prepares for her new season of “Be My Guest,” fans eagerly await more insights into the world of food and celebrity that have brought these two talents together in both professional and personal ways.