It’s that time of year again to pretend like the Oscars actually matter. I’m not complaining; this is practically my Super Bowl. So, if you’re planning on tuning in to the Academy Awards this year, I’m here to give you some cocktail inspiration whether you’re throwing a party or just hunkering down yourself.

Below you can find cocktails I made last year that were inspired by films nominated for an Academy Award this year. Additionally, I’ve also include a video that will not only demonstrate how to make the cocktail, but also give you my thoughts on the films if you feel so inclined. From Sinners to One Battle After Another, there’s plenty to choose from if you’re looking for new ways to rep your favorite film!

ASHES OF EYWA (Avatar: Fire & Ash)

This cocktail is inspired by the Mangkwan tribe, a collection of Na’vi that had their home destroyed by a volcano, and have thus, abandoned the teachings of Eywa. Seems a bit extreme when you have an afterlife where you can see all of your loved ones, but hey, you do you. Anyway, this is a bit of an interesting one, as we’re gonna be bringing a bit of heat through harissa. I haven’t used this on the show yet but I think it’s a good way to add some spice while also making the drink a tad exotic. The combination of that, pomegranate and mezcal are gonna make one interesting flavor pairing, alluring enough to make you turn your back on your god. Not really, but if you are looking to convert to the Church of Martini Shot, I will be holding confessionals

INGREDIENTS

• 1.5oz mezcal
• 1oz pomegranate juice
• 3/4oz lime juice
• 1/2tsp harissa
• 1/2oz agave syrup
• 1-2 habanero bitters
• Garnish: lime husk
• Garnish: Crouton
• Garnish: Overproof rum

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add ingredients to a shaker and shake with ice.
2. Double strain into rocks glass filled with ice.
3. For flaming lime boat, place the lime husk on top of the cocktail, then place a crouton in it. Carefully douse crouton with a small amount of overproof rum. Ignite crouton with lighter or match.
4. BLOW OUT AND REMOVE LIME BOAT BEFORE DRINKING

QUEEN BEE (Bugonia)

For this drink, I wanted to keep things nice and simple, because if you haven’t had a New York Sour before, hopefully this will convince you to do so. It’s essentially a whiskey sour with a little bit of red wine floated on top, which adds so much more complexity to the drink. But for the Queen Bee, we are going to be melding the New York Sour with another classic cocktail, the Gold Rush. This is gonna give the cocktail a slightly different, slight botanical taste compared to your regular New York Sour, while visually it’s going to reflect that red hot anger rising to the surface for our main characters. Lotioning up your body first is not required, but it is recommended.

INGREDIENTS

• 2oz overproof bourbon
• 3/4oz honey syrup/liqueur
• 3/4oz lemon juice
• Float: red wine

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add ingredients to a shaker and shake with ice.
2. Strain into chilled cocktail glass.
3. Gently pour red wine over the back of a spoon over the cocktail to make the red layer.

CORPSE REVIVER 1818 (Frankenstein)

The corpse reviver cocktails have been around for decades, potentially offering you the cure to hangovers with a little hair of the dog. Well allow me to offer you the hair of the guy I dug up from the graveyard. This rift on the reviver cocktail contains many of the same ingredients, but uses green chartreuse for a bit of a peppery bite and lime juice for a more mellow but still tasty final product. Now, I can’t guarantee that this will actually revive a corpse, but if you’re already dead, why deprive you of a good cocktail regardless? That’s what I thought.

INGREDIENTS

• 1.5oz gin
• 1/2oz Lillet Blanc
• 1/2oz green chartreuse
• 1/4oz absinthe
• 1/2oz lime juice
• 1/4oz simple syrup
• garnish: lime wheel

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add ingredients to a shaker and shake with ice.
2. Strain into cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with lime wheel(s). If you’d like, twist and skewer them to make a spiral shape.

VIVE LES FRENCH 75 (One Battle After Another)

Look, how could I have a movie with a revolutionary group called the French 75 and not have the drink be some kind of riff on the popular cocktail. It’d be like reviewing The Blues Brothers without the Orange Whip, or Salo without the mudslide. But this isn’t any ordinary French 75. To match the dusty California desert setting, I’ve decided to introduce some hibiscus and peppercorn flavors to give it a bit of earthiness, along with some habanero for a little added spice. Yet this still retains the bubbly, sweet nature the original drink is known for. It’s a drink worth forgetting your family safe word for just so you can remember this recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 1.5oz hibiscus infused gin
• 1/2oz green chartreuse
• 1/2oz lemon juice
• 1/2oz agave nectar
• 2 dashes habanero bitters
• Top: champagne
• Garnish: lemon twist

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add ingredients to a shaker and shake with ice.
2. Strain cocktail into a chilled champagne flute.
3. Top with champagne.
4. Garnish with lemon twist.

SPINOSAURUS (Jurassic Park: Rebirth)

Everyone’s got their favorite dinosaur, from the t-rex to Barney. For me, I’ve always been partial to the Spinosaurus. It’s incredibly intimidating, but knows how to stunt on the other dinos with it’s cool back frill. Spinosaurus’s actually have a pretty fun sequence in this film, so I decide to base the cocktail around their appearance. The drink itself is a bit of a mai tai riff, containing the flavors of coconut, pineapple and a healthy does of rum. Don’t forget your half of a cocktail umbrella to give the drink the signature spine, and get ready to turn any shipwreck into an island adventure.

INGREDIENTS

• 1.5oz pineapple rum
• 3/4oz orange curacao
• 3/4oz lime juice
• 1/2oz cream of coconut
• Float: 1/2oz dark rum
• Garnish: Half of a cocktail umbrella

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add ingredients to a shaker and shake with ice.
2. Strain into cocktail glass over ice.
3. Slowly pour the dark rum over the back of a spoon over the drink to create the layer effect.
4. Use scissors to cut off the bottom half of a cocktail umbrella, then garnish the drink with it.

VAMPIRE HUNTER (Sinners)

In my quest to vampire-proof cocktails, I have yet to find an adequate way to integrate wooden stakes and holy water into a drink, so I guess I’ll just have to settle on garlic. In truth, although garlic in a cocktail may sound strange at first, I actually find it to be incredible synchronistic with the flavors that come from bourbon and mezcal. Combined together, they create a smokey, pungent and slightly spiced experience that reminded me a lot of eating a steak with a little au jus. To drive the garlic home even further, you can garnish your cocktail with a clove (or two if you want to simulate a pair of vampire fangs).

INGREDIENTS

• 2oz bourbon
• 1oz sweet vermouth
• 1/2oz garlic syrup (1 cup of water + 1 cup of sugar + 4 garlic cloves)
• 2 dashes angostura bitters
• 1 barspoon mezcal
• garnish: garlic cloves

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add ingredients to a mixing glass and stir with ice.
2. Strain into chilled glass.
3. Garnish with garlic clove.

PakarPBN

A Private Blog Network (PBN) is a collection of websites that are controlled by a single individual or organization and used primarily to build backlinks to a “money site” in order to influence its ranking in search engines such as Google. The core idea behind a PBN is based on the importance of backlinks in Google’s ranking algorithm. Since Google views backlinks as signals of authority and trust, some website owners attempt to artificially create these signals through a controlled network of sites.

In a typical PBN setup, the owner acquires expired or aged domains that already have existing authority, backlinks, and history. These domains are rebuilt with new content and hosted separately, often using different IP addresses, hosting providers, themes, and ownership details to make them appear unrelated. Within the content published on these sites, links are strategically placed that point to the main website the owner wants to rank higher. By doing this, the owner attempts to pass link equity (also known as “link juice”) from the PBN sites to the target website.

The purpose of a PBN is to give the impression that the target website is naturally earning links from multiple independent sources. If done effectively, this can temporarily improve keyword rankings, increase organic visibility, and drive more traffic from search results.

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Only two of the major eight categories have a consensus prediction to win (Best Actress & Best Adapted Screenplay), and the crew is also divided on what should win across almost every category, indicating the breadth of a fantastic year. As for the overlooked, there’s a lot of love for Jafar Panahi and Josh O’Connor, among many other fascinating choices from Pamela Anderson to Adam Sandler. Enjoy.

Legend: Matt Zoller Seitz (MZS), Robert Daniels (RD), Nell Minow (NM), Clint Worthington (CW), and yours truly (BT).

BEST PICTURE
WHO WILL WIN:
“One Battle After Another” (NM/CW/MZS)
“Sinners” (BT/RD)

WHO SHOULD WIN:
“One Battle After Another” (BT/CW)
“Sinners” (NM/MZS)
“The Secret Agent” (RD)

WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED:
“It Was Just an Accident” (BT/CW)
“Blue Moon” (RD)
“The Life of Chuck” (MZS)
“Nuremberg” (NM)

The most competitive Best Picture race in years will end on Sunday when either Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” or Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” ends up the final winner announced. The crew here is split on both what will and what should happen. Funny enough, only Clint predicts the winner to be his pick, PTA’s film, although I think “Sinners” would be a historic, equally worthy win, and I’m predicting it after the success at the SAG Actor Awards. Robert agrees, noting, “I can’t ignore the record-breaking nomination haul garnered by “Sinners” or the sheer enthusiasm around it.”

As for overlooked nominees, Clint and I agree that Jafar Panahi’s Palme d’Or winner was robbed, likely due to the abundance of Neon possibilities (two of theirs, “The Secret Agent” and “Sentimental Value” already taking up real estate). Clint says, “I think it’s a shame that Jafar Panahi’s mighty treatise on the lingering effects of wartime trauma isn’t in contention for the top spot.” Nell points out the power of “Nuremberg,” writing, “It is a powerful reminder of how easy it is to slip into brutality if you think it will give you the sense of yourself and your culture you believe you are entitled to.” Finally, Matt Zoller Seitz loves Mike Flanagan’s Stephen King adaptation, “a lovely, funny, sweet, profound, and very accessible movie that also has an unconventional structure.”

BEST DIRECTOR
WHO WILL WIN:
Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another” (BT/NM/RD)
Ryan Coogler, “Sinners” (MZS)
Josh Safdie, “Marty Supreme” (CW)

WHO SHOULD WIN:
Ryan Coogler, “Sinners” (BT/CW/RD/MZS)
Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another” (NM)

WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED:
Jafar Panahi, “It Was Just an Accident” (BT/CW)
Craig Brewer, “Song Sung Blue” (NM)
Mary Bronstein, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” (RD)
Steven Soderbergh, “Presence” (MZS)

In years that are this competitive, there’s often a Pic/Director split. That’s what I’m predicting: That PTA will finally take home a Best Director Oscar (his second ever after winning Adapted Screenplay earlier in the night), but I’d be over the moon if Coogler won for his incredible ambition, something that 4/5ths of us agree on. (Nell is predicting her pick for should-win, PTA, will take the prize.)

As for why Coogler should win, we’ll let someone who notoriously gave the film a mixed review take the mic: “I’m sure there will be some eyebrows raised by readers, especially those who read my review,” says Robert. “However, like I said in my review, I can’t deny the massive swing Coogler took or the rarity of its occurrence for Black directors. That I think it only works in fits and starts is moot. This is the biggest and most expansive vision of the films nominated. It should win for the sheer level of difficulty required to even attempt it.”

As for the overlooked, Matt picks out one of the best living directors and one who should be in this line-up far more often: Steven Soderbergh. “Soderbergh not only directed but also served as the sole camera operator, simultaneously giving a sensitive and totally in-the-zone “performance” as the first-person protagonist, a ghost, while mentally tracking everything else a director must manage,” he says.

BEST ACTOR
WHO WILL WIN:
Timothee Chalamet, “Marty Supreme” (NM/CW)
Wagner Moura, “The Secret Agent” (RD/MZS)
Michael B. Jordan, “Sinners” (BT)

WHO SHOULD WIN:
Ethan Hawke, “Blue Moon” (BT/CW/RD)
Michael B. Jordan, “Sinners” (NM/MZS)

WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED:
Josh O’Connor, “The Mastermind” (CW/RD/MZS)
Lee Byung-hun, “No Other Choice” (BT)
Denzel Washington, “Highest 2 Lowest” (NM)

One of the most unpredictable categories of the night will be Best Actor, which looked at one point like Chalamet’s to lose, but the joy and admiration in the room when Michael B. Jordan won the SAG Actor Award last week felt undeniable to this writer. There’s also a strong possibility that Chalamet and Jordan split the “predictable” vote and allow Moura or Hawke to sneak in and take it.

As for his predicted pick of Moura, Matt writes: “I think Moura is this year’s equivalent of the barely known Adrien Brody winning Best Actor over Russell Crowe and Nicolas Cage for 2002, or a young Irish actor named Daniel Day-Lewis, who wasn’t a star yet, taking the award despite stiff competition from Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Morgan Freeman and Robin Williams, all of whom did some of their career-best work that same year. It’s a great performance by Moura, mysterious and sad and strangely kind.”

There’s more consensus in the entire field of acting for who should have been nominated than in the five picks and that’s because of the stunning year that Josh O’Connor had with “Rebuilding,” “History of Sound,” “Wake Up Dead Man,” and Kelly Reichardt’s “The Mastermind,” which 60% of the editors of this site would have nominated. As MZS writes, “he’s never been anything less than mesmerizing.” I adore O’Connor, but I was also personally annoyed that Park Chan-wook’s “No Other Choice” was entirely overlooked and would have cited the best work of Lee Byung-hun’s career (among other nominations).

BEST ACTRESS
WHO WILL WIN:
Jessie Buckley, “Hamnet” (BT/NM/CW/RD/MZS)

WHO SHOULD WIN:
Jessie Buckley, “Hamnet” (BT/MZS)
Rose Byrne, “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” (CW/RD)
Kate Hudson, “Song Sung Blue” (NM)

WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED:
Amanda Seyfried, “The Testament of Ann Lee” (BT/CW)
Kathleen Chalfant, “Familiar Touch” (NM)
Chase Infiniti, “One Battle After Another” (RD)

Finally, some consensus. The only true award season precursor sweep has come from Jessie Buckley and “Hamnet,” a certain winner on Sunday. While she’s my pick for “should” in this fivesome, if either Amanda Seyfried or Jennifer Lawrence (“Die, My Love”) had been justly nominated, I would have gone with one of those unforgettable turns. They’re both performances that people will presume were nominated years from now and feel startled when they learn they weren’t.

I’m also fully on board with Nell’s pick of Kathleen Chalfant’s nuanced work in “Familiar Touch” and Chase Infiniti’s star-making turn in “One Battle After Another,” Robert’s pick, revealing the remarkable depth of talent in a category that’s being dominated by one person. Nell cites Chalfant’s “exquisite performance as a woman whose vibrance and dignity are undimmed by cognitive decline.”

Robert also wishes that the biggest upset of the night goes to Rose Byrne, writing, “It’s Rose Byrne’s misfortune that she also played an aggrieved mother in a film that I think is emotionally more difficult to wrap your arms around but is ultimately far more trusting of the audience and its actors to provide space to organically feel.”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
WHO WILL WIN:
Delroy Lindo, “Sinners” (BT/RD)
Benicio del Toro, “One Battle After Another” (CW/MZS)
Sean Penn, “One Battle After Another” (NM)

WHO SHOULD WIN:
Delroy Lindo, “Sinners” (CW/RD)
Benicio del Toro, “One Battle After Another” (MZS)
Jacob Elordi, “Frankenstein” (BT)
Sean Penn, “One Battle After Another” (NM)

WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED:
Adam Sandler, “Jay Kelly” (BT)
Josh O’Connor, anything (NM)
Ralph Fiennes, “28 Years Later” (CW)
Andrew Scott, “Blue Moon” (RD)
Jack O’Connell, “Sinners” (MZS)

There are so many choices here. For weeks, it felt like an open race, but Sean Penn taking both BAFTA and SAG Actor makes him the likely frontrunner, but I’m going with the wave of love for “Sinners” sweeping in the wonderful Delroy Lindo in one of the biggest surprises of the night. Almost no one here would be truly aggravating, although Del Toro’s work feels more subtly perfect than Penn’s to this viewer, even if my pick would be the incredibly physical, nuanced work from the “Euphoria” star. And Clint says he’ll “drink a few small beers” if BdT pulls what now kinda feels like an upset.

Nell drops O’Connor here to award his remarkable 2025 while the rest of the staff picks such a unique range of performances. They’re gonna have to nominate Adam Sandler someday, and this would have been a great one in which to do it, while I agree with all of the other choices, too. It’s a fantastic year for supporting performances, and it will be a bit ironic if the least-campaigning of the bunch, Sean Penn, rises to the top to take home his third trophy.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
WHO WILL WIN:
Amy Madigan, “Weapons” (BT/NM/CW/MZS)
Wunmi Mosaku, “Sinners” (RD)

WHO SHOULD WIN:
Wunmi Mosaku, “Sinners” (BT/MZS)
Amy Madigan, “Weapons” (NM)
Elle Fanning, “Sentimental Value” (CW)
Teyana Taylor, “One Battle After Another” (RD)

WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED:
Jane Levy, “A Little Prayer” (BT)
Odessa A’zion, “Marty Supreme” (NM)
Pamela Anderson, “The Naked Gun” (CW)
Tânia Maria, “The Secret Agent” (RD)
Diane Kruger, “The Shrouds” (MZS)

It’s funny that four people are predicting the win for “Weapons,” given I don’t think this category is predictable at all. Yes, the “Sentimental Value” nominees probably cancel each other out, but none of the other three would surprise me in the slightest, and I’d actually prefer either of the non-Madigan picks. As much as Amy Madigan elevates “Weapons” every second she’s on screen, the same can be said for Mosaku and Taylor. What’s interesting is that all three feel like performances that define their films: You can’t imagine the movies without them.

As for who should have been nominated, look at those five. Imagine what an inspired Oscars it would be if those were the five instead! I adored Jane Levy’s moving work in Angus MacLachlan’s delicate drama, while Nell considers Odessa A’zion’s turn “the heart of ‘Marty Supreme,’” tough and tender.” Robert hoped for a second acting nomination for “The Secret Agent,” saying of Maria’s work: “It’s a true supporting performance that provides this rebellious movie with another definition of courage, one found in the undaunted, literal support of others who find themselves rendered powerless against an oppressive system.”

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
WHO WILL WIN:
“One Battle After Another” by Paul Thomas Anderson (BT/NM/CW/RD/MZS)

WHO SHOULD WIN:
“One Battle After Another” by Paul Thomas Anderson (BT/NM/CW/RD)
“Frankenstein” by Guillermo del Toro (MZS)

WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED:
“Wake Up Dead Man” by Rian Johnson (BT)
“Peter Hujar’s Day” by Ira Sachs (NM)
“Die, My Love” by Lynne Ramsay (CW)
“Hedda” by Nia DaCosta (RD)
“The Life of Chuck” by Mike Flanagan (MZS)

There was almost five-for-five consensus on the Academy “getting this one right,” but Matt is holding out hope for an upset for Guillermo del Toro, calling his Mary Shelley adaptation “one of his best feature film scripts ever, true to the source (in spirit, anyway) but a GDT joint all the way, in terms of structure, tone, and the choice of when to have characters talk and when to let them be silent.”

As for the overlooked, Nell calls “Peter Hujar’s Day” “a lyrical cinematic poem about the eternal joy of sunlight, friendship, and being present for whatever happens.” Robert holds a little more anger for overlooking Nia DaCosta’s “prickly” Ibsen adaptation, saying those who didn’t vote for it “…will not see heaven. Few scribes took as big an adaptive swing as her and connected on such a high level.”

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
WHO WILL WIN:
“Sinners” by Ryan Coogler (BT/NM/RD/MZS)
“Marty Supreme” by Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie (CW)

WHO SHOULD WIN:
“Sinners” by Ryan Coogler (BT/NM/MZS)
“It Was Just an Accident” by Jafar Panahi with script collaborators Nader Saïvar, Shadmehr Rastin, and Mehdi Mahmoudian (CW/RD)

WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOMINATED:
“Sorry, Baby” by Eva Victor (BT/RD)
“Jay Kelly” by Noah Baumbach (NM)
“The Mastermind” by Kelly Reichardt (CW)
“Black Bag” by David Koepp (MZS)

Once again, there’s a higher-than-average consensus that the Academy will get this one right, awarding Ryan Coogler’s script, one that Seitz calls “vibrantly original and entertaining. “

Robert and I unite in our shock at Eva Victor’s snub, with Robert writing: “Victor’s script is so introspective, thoughtful, and vulnerable—showing a level of processing that I can’t conceive —that I can’t imagine anyone watching or reading it and not thinking it’s among the best of the year.”

Finally, Clint takes a righteous soapbox for one of our best filmmakers and how she’s consistently overlooked, writing, “There are scenes and exchanges in ‘The Mastermind’ that still stick with me, and it would be nice for Reichardt’s probing, contemplative writing to be rewarded. Give her a nomination, for crying out loud; it’s been decades! She’s put in the work!”

PakarPBN

A Private Blog Network (PBN) is a collection of websites that are controlled by a single individual or organization and used primarily to build backlinks to a “money site” in order to influence its ranking in search engines such as Google. The core idea behind a PBN is based on the importance of backlinks in Google’s ranking algorithm. Since Google views backlinks as signals of authority and trust, some website owners attempt to artificially create these signals through a controlled network of sites.

In a typical PBN setup, the owner acquires expired or aged domains that already have existing authority, backlinks, and history. These domains are rebuilt with new content and hosted separately, often using different IP addresses, hosting providers, themes, and ownership details to make them appear unrelated. Within the content published on these sites, links are strategically placed that point to the main website the owner wants to rank higher. By doing this, the owner attempts to pass link equity (also known as “link juice”) from the PBN sites to the target website.

The purpose of a PBN is to give the impression that the target website is naturally earning links from multiple independent sources. If done effectively, this can temporarily improve keyword rankings, increase organic visibility, and drive more traffic from search results.

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It’s that time again to put to much faith in the Academy and try to pick and predict who is going home with the gold this year! In the video above, you can check out who I want to win and who I think will win (two very different things).

But if you’re looking to throw an Oscars party this year and want a few themed drinks for the occasion, below I have provided a few cocktails I made last year that are inspired by films that are up for awards this season. Be sure to check them out, and let me know who you want to see win big this year!

GALINDA FIZZ (Wicked)

Known for being bubbly (both in personality and as a motif) Galinda felt like a great subject to center a cocktail around. I decided to do some experimenting with bubblegum flavored vodka, a flavor that may be divisive as it’s not a typically culinary ingredient. But, when paired with cooling peppermint and sweet raspberry, I think it creates something magical. To really up the magic of the cocktail (along with its sweetness and color), I made a sparkling wand from a Blowpop and pink sanding sugar that you can use as a stirring device that also adds a little bit of sweetness to the cocktail!

INGREDIENTS

• 2oz bubblegum-infused vodka
• 1/2oz lemon juice
• 1/2oz peppermint schnapps
• 1/2oz raspberry liqueur
• Top: Soda water
• Garnish: Pink sugar coated Blowpop

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add ingredients to a tall glass, with the soda water being last.
2. Coat your Blowpop with the sugar, using either lemon juice or your own saliva (if you’re making the drink for yourself)
3. Stir the drink with the Blowpop, adding additional sugar if you’d like to play with the color.
4. Add ice.

HIPPOCRAS (Gladiator II)

Did you know it’s incredibly easy to drink like the Romans did? Hippocras is a spiced wine concoction that has survived generations as a sort of mulled wine. Unlike mulled wine, however, this does not require a stovetop. Simply combine the ingredients, let them sit, and then serve hot, cold or room temperature. The spices come together in a Christmasy blend, while the sugar helps to sweeten it for those who don’t like their drinks too dry. The original recipe differs from this slightly, though this was made to be as accessible as possible. Most of these ingredients might be sitting in your spice rack right now!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 bottle red wine (dry wine preferably, like a pinot noir)
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 2 inches peeled ginger
• 1/4tsp ground nutmeg
• 4 whole cloves
• 4 black peppercorns
• 2 sprigs rosemary
• 1/2 cup sugar

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Combine ingredients in a sealable container and let sit at room temperature for at least 24 hours.
2. Strain out left over spice remnants.
3. Serve at room temperature, or can be stored in the fridge to chill or heated on a saucepan.

PINK RUSSIAN (Anora)

The Pink Russian is a bit of a riff on the White Russian, which substitutes coffee flavors for chocolate and almond, alongside the modification of strawberry cream. This creates a delicious dessert cocktail that’s incredibly approachable, sweet and a tad fruity. A perfect winter or post-Vegas wedding drink, and even if you come to regret the marriage, you’ll never regret having this!

INGREDIENTS

• 2oz vanilla vodka
• 1oz strawberry cream
• 1/2oz creme de cacao
• 1/2oz amaretto

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add all ingredients to a rocks glass filled with ice. Stir to combine.

THE ACTIVATOR (The Substance)

Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself? Younger, more beautiful, more perfect? Well, there’s no miracle cure to achieve that, but you know what has been making people looking better than they actually are since the beginning of man? Alcohol! The Activator will unlock that better you, all it takes is one (or two, I’m not your mom) injections. This fun, bright green cocktail is modeled after the titular substance in the film, packing a bright, citrusy flavor with a little bit of spice. To inject this beauty straight into your esophagus, I highly recommend using a fun cocktail syringe. Just don’t go too crazy; what is lost can not be reclaimed, including your dignity.

INGREDIENTS

• 1.5oz tequila
• 3/4oz Midori
• 3/4oz chili liqueur
• 1oz orange juice
• 1/2oz simple syrup
• 1/2oz lemon juice

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add ingredients to shaker and shake with ice.
2. Strain into glass over fresh ice.

PROXIMUS CAESAR (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes)

What a wonderful day! Aren’t we grateful to be living in a time where our gracious ape overlords allow us to enjoy a sweet treat for the summer? Named after the pompous villain of the film, the Proximus Caesar is essentially a boozy banana smoothie given a bit of richness thanks to coffee liqueur, as well as a bit of burn thanks to two different rums. Simply throw the ingredients in a blender to create this great achievement in ape advancement! Now is the time to return to monke.

INGREDIENTS

• 2oz rum
• 1/2oz overproof rum
• 1.5oz coconut cream
• 1.5oz coffee liqueur
• 3/4oz lime juice
• 1/2 banana
• Garnish: Mint sprig
• Garnish: Caramelized banana slice

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add ingredients to a blender along with 1 cup of ice. Blend until smooth.
2. Pour into copper julep mug (or regular cocktail glass if preferred).
3. Garnish with mint sprig and caramelized banana slice.

WATER OF LIFE (Dune Part 2)

The Water of Life is drunk by incoming Reverend Mothers, a high ranking position among the Fremen that Lady Jessica finds herself slotted into. Don’t let its electric blue sheen fool you; it’s a highly dangerous poison that will kill most men who drink it. Oh, and it’s worm piss. Piss from a worm. For this cocktail I wanted to tap into the middle eastern inspirations that influenced the design of the Fremen, and to do that we’re going to be using a popular Middle Eastern anise-flavored liqueur called arak, as well as a blend of spices to give this a bit of a kick. It’s quite the unique cocktail, one that may leave you seeing the future if you’re not careful. Just know you can’t blame me for any holy wars you may enact.

Potion Bottles

Ingredients

• 3/4oz arak
• 3/4ozoz blue curacao
• 1oz mezcal
• 1/4oz – 1/2oz baharat simple syrup
• 1/2oz lemon juice
• 1oz coconut water

Baharat Simple Syrup Recipe

• 2tbsp cumin
• 1tbsp black pepper
• 1tbsp coriander
• 1tbsp paprika
• 1tsp cardamon
• 1/2tsp cloves
• 1/2tsp nutmeg
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water

Instructions

1. Add ingredients to a shaker and shake with ice.
2. Strain into cocktail glass.

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