4 Oscar-Worthy Cocktail Recipes

Get into the Oscar Spirit

With the biggest night in Hollywood around the corner, our bartending team has been busy concocting a dazzling lineup of libations inspired by the most critically acclaimed films of 2017. Whether you’re throwing a swanky awards viewing party, or just looking for a great cocktail to sip while silently judging red carpet gowns, we’ve got a few suggestions. Read on for the recipes – and brace yourself for the puns!

Call Me For Champagne

Kick off your evening with this romantic aperitif inspired by the gorgeous and seductive Call Me By Your Name. This classic Champagne cocktail is a little on the sweet side, and features a touch of youthful playfulness with its marshmallow garnish. While we like to use Champagne, you could add a little Italian flavour by opting for your favourite Prosecco instead.

1. To make a batch of blackberry vanilla simple syrup, combine equal parts water and sugar (about one cup each) with one cup of blackberries and the seeds from one or two vanilla beans.
2. Bring to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer for 10 minutes, reducing heat if mixture starts to boil.
3. Remove from heat and smash blackberries with a potato masher. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
4. Pour through a mesh strainer into a container.
5. Build cocktail in a Champagne flute (simple syrup first, followed by the bubbles).
6. Garnish with a marshmallow skewer.

Molly’s Margarita

Influenced by Jessica Chastain’s fiery performance as the titular character in Molly’s Game, this take on the traditional margarita raises the stakes with a sharp kick of cilantro. Love it or hate it, this cocktail is as zingy as an Aaron Sorkin screenplay.

Ingredients:
1oz Olmeca Gold tequila
.25oz triple sec
.75oz lime juice
.5oz cilantro simple syrup
salt rimmer

Method:

1. To make a batch of cilantro simple syrup, combine equal parts water and sugar (about one cup each) with one bunch (or one cup) of cilantro.
2. Bring to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer for 10 minutes, reducing heat if mixture starts to boil.
3. Remove from heat and gentle muddle the cilantro leaves. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
4. Pour through a mesh strainer into a container.
5. Take a rocks glass and rim half the glass with lime juice and salt. Fill with ice.
6. Combine the the tequila, Triple Sec, lime juice and cilantro simple syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into the rocks glass.
7. Garnish with a wedge of lime and sprig of cilantro.

The Shape of Vodka

Sparked by the swooning romance of Guillermo del Toro’s otherworldly fairytale, this not-too-sweet cocktail goes down nice and easy. A refreshing update on the trusty Cosmopolitan, the drink features a large sphere-shaped ice cube to add visual intrigue (and, well, a little extra water).

1. Combine vodka, Triple Sec, passion lychee juice (we source ours from Chasers), and lime juice in a cocktail shaker over ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a martini glass over a ball of ice.
2. Garnish with a few shaves of lemon zest.

Method:

1. Combine whisky, sugar, lemon, and egg white in a cocktail shaker over ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a coupe glass.
2. Add three dashes of cardamom bitters to top.