And the Oscar goes to...
That's what we'll be hearing 24 times on February 28th, during ABC's telecast of the 88th Academy Awards. A night that will be surely filled with glamour, tributes and surprises.
This year's crop of Best Picture nominees is one of the strongest in years. I liked every one of these eight films, and I think they are all deserving of their nominations. In fact, I think two more films--Carol and Star Wars: The Force Awakens--were also deserving, so I went ahead and created bonus Oscar cocktails for those movies too.
Creating this set of Oscar cocktails was a lot of fun, but it was also quite challenging. As in previous years, I have two important criteria for each drink: 1) it has to honor and represent the film, be it the film's settings, characters or themes, and 2) it has to be a really great cocktail. I'm not just throwing ingredients together. I want them to harmonize and balance into a drink that's enjoyable any time of year. I think I've achieved that this year. I hope you enjoy them also.
Below are the recipes for all 10 of this year's Oscar cocktails. Over the next two weeks, I'll also create separate posts that tell the story behind each drink, starting today with The Martian and Spotlight cocktails. Those posts will be linked to the names of the cocktails in this story as they go up each day. I also posted ideas for what to serve at your party (8-2-Eat: Oscar Party Fare).
Inspired by the Wall Street meltdown, the bad investments (lemons), greed and crushed hopes depicted in the film.
1 oz. Del Maguey Vida mezcal
1 oz. Green Chartreuse
¾ oz. lemon juice
1 tsp. agave nectar
1 oz. Fever Tree ginger beer
Lemon twist garnish
Combine mezcal, Chartreuse, lemon juice and agave nectar in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until very cold, then strain into a lowball glass filled with crushed ice. Top with ginger beer and garnish with lemon twist.
A riff on the classic Moscow Mule cocktail with Chartreuse, an ingredient with a secret recipe.
1 ½ oz. vodka
½ oz Yellow Chartreuse
½ oz. lime juice
4-6 oz. Fever Tree ginger beer
Half lime wheel garnish
Combine vodka, Chartreuse and lime juice in a copper mug filled with ice. Stir ingredients and top with ginger beer. Garnish with half lime wheel.
A riff on the Brooklyn cocktail inspired by the film’s setting and the Irish and Italian backgrounds of its characters.
2 oz. Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey
¾ oz. Carpano dry vermouth
¼ oz. Luxardo maraschino liqueur
2 dashes Hella aromatic bitters
2 dashes Hella orange bitters
Maraschino cherry garnish
Combine whiskey, vermouth, liqueur and bitters in a cocktail mixing glass with ice. Stir until very cold, then strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with cherry.
Inspired by the film’s automotive themes and generally wild nature.
½ oz. Marca Negra espadín mezcal
½ oz. Jaegermeister
½ oz. Cinnamon syrup (see note)
½ oz. grapefruit juice
Bittermens ‘Elemakule tiki bitters
Flamed orange peel garnish
Combine rum, mezcal, Jaegermeister, Cinnamon syrup, grapefruit juice and bitters in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until very cold, then strain into a chilled coupe. Flame the orange peel over the drink, then rub it around the rim before dropping it into the glass.
Note: to make cinnamon syrup, combine 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar and 2 cinnamon sticks in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat, simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, allow to cool, discard cinnamon sticks, and store syrup in refrigerator.
Inspired by Mars’ red color and the fiery rockets needed to get there.
1 oz. Marca Negra espadín mezcal
1 oz. Mount Gay extra old dark rum
½ oz. Carpano Antica sweet vermouth
¼ oz. Aperol
¼ oz. Campari
1 tsp. agave nectar
2 dashes Angostura bitters
½ dash Bittermens Hellfire habanero shrub
Orange peel garnish
Combine mezcal, rum, vermouth, Aperol, Campari, agave nectar, bitters and shrub in a cocktail mixing glass with ice. Stir until very cold. Strain into a rocks glass with a single large-sphere ice cube. Garnish with orange peel.
A woodsy and botannical drink inspired by the film’s damp, cold forest setting.
2 tsp. fresh rosemary leaves
½ oz. Clear Creek Eau de Vie of Douglas Fir
½ oz. Laphroaig quarter cask Scotch whiskey
¾ oz. Buffalo Trace bourbon whiskey
¾ oz. Leopold’s American small batch gin
½ oz. Carpano Antica sweet vermouth
½ oz. maple syrup
2 dashes Fee Brothers whiskey barrel-aged bitters
Rosemary sprig garnish
Add rosemary leaves and Eau de Vie to a cocktail shaker and muddle. Add Scotch, whiskey, gin, vermouth, syrup, bitters and ice and shake until very cold. Strain into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with rosemary sprig.
A strong drink inspired by Jack’s hair—The Strong—a metaphor for the strength to be brave through the tough times.
1 ½ oz. Rittenhouse rye whiskey
½ oz. Amaro Averna
½ oz. Nux Alpina Nocino walnut liqueur
½ oz. Drambuie liqueur
½ oz. cold-brewed coffee
2 dashes Bittermens Xocolatl mole bitters
Orange peel, garnish
Combine whiskey, Averna, liqueurs, coffee and bitters in a cocktail mixing glass with ice. Stir until very cold, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with orange peel.
Inspired by the reporters’ search for the big scoop and the black-and-white truth.
1 ½ oz. Buffalo Trace bourbon whiskey
½ oz. Becherovka
½ oz. Amaro Montenegro
½ oz. Kahlua
2 dashes Fee Brothers whiskey-barrel-aged bitters
1 dash chocolate bitters
Small scoop (1/4 cup) of Häagen-Dazs vanilla bean ice cream, softened
Rolled wafer cookie garnish
Combine whiskey, Becherovka, amaro, bitters and ice cream in a cocktail shaker. Shake until mixed and pour into a chilled coupe. Garnish with rolled wafer cookie.
Inspired by Carol’s martini and her love for Therese, which at the time “dared not speak its name.”
1 tsp. absinthe
2 oz. Bombay Sapphire London dry gin
¾ oz. Dolin dry vermouth
¼ oz. Yellow Chartreuse
1 tsp. Luxardo maraschino liqueur
2 dashes Bittermens burlesque bitters
2 greens olives and 1 cocktail onion, garnish
Rinse a chilled cocktail glass with absinthe. Combine gin, vermouth, Chartreuse, maraschino liqueur and bitters in a cocktail mixing glass with ice. Stir until very cold, then strain into the cocktail glass. Garnish with olives and onion.
Inspired by Luke’s—now Rey’s—blue lightsaber and her duel with Kylo Ren in the snowy forest of Starkiller base.
¾ oz. Del Maguey Vida mezcal
¾ oz. cachaça
½ oz. light crème de cacao
½ oz. blue curaçao
½ oz. fresh lime juice
Bing cherry garnish
Combine mezcal, cachaça, crème de cacao, blue curaçao and lime juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until very cold, then strain into a collins glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with bing cherry (preferably skewered with an action figure’s lightsaber). Serve with a straw.
Related
Oscar Cocktails 2015
Oscar Cocktails 2014
Oscar Cocktails 2013
Related
Oscar Cocktails 2015
Oscar Cocktails 2014
Oscar Cocktails 2013
Amazing Oscar cocktails! I am happy to know about these brilliant recipes. Would love to try these cocktails for my Oscar themed birthday party next month at one of party venues LA. Hoping, they will allow my drinks at the venue.
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