Oscar Cocktails: The Argo

Director Ben Affleck’s Argo tells a seemingly unbelievable yet true story. A little Hollywood magic helped CIA agent Tony Mendez rescue a group of American diplomats hiding in the Canadian embassy in Iran after an uprising against the U.S. embassy. The powerful drama is nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Picture, Supporting Actor (Alan Arkin) and Adapted Screenplay.

For the Argo cocktail, I drew inspiration from the geographic elements of the film: Canadian whisky to represent the Canadian embassy, cardamom syrup for Iran (since the spice is used in Iranian cuisine), and oranges for Hollywood, California. The spherical ice cube nods to the fictitious science fiction film “Argo” that served as the ruse at the center of the harrowing escape.

Oscar Cocktails: The Argo

1 1/2 oz. Canadian whisky
1/2 oz. sweet vermouth
1 oz. orange juice
3/4 oz. cardamom syrup (see recipe below)
Orange peel

Combine whiskey, sweet vermouth, orange juice and cardamom syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake until very cold and strain into rocks glass with ice. Garnish with orange peel.

Cardamom Syrup

3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup cardamom pods

Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to boil, then remove from heat and stir in cardamom pods. Steep for 1 hour. Strain. Store syrup in refrigerator until ready to use.

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