2020 Oscar Cocktail Collection inspired by the 9 Best Picture Academy Award-nominated films

 

 

This highly anticipated collection of cinematic libations is much more than your ordinary cocktail; each is an individual work of art of cinematic storytelling in liquid form.

2020 Oscar Collection based on the Best Picture nominated films of 2019

Each awards season, Cocktail Chameleon Author Mark Addison creates his signature Oscar Cocktails inspired by each of the 9 Best Picture Academy Award-nominated films. Mark’s mixology inspiration can come from the film locations or era, a single character, a plot point, and or a pop culture reference within the film’s story. Wherever the inspiration sparks, Mark nurtures it to develop a fully realized “cocktail character” and authentic photographic setting that embodies each of the distinguished Academy Award-nominated films, and this year is no exception!

Below are each of the nine Best Picture nominated films with their corresponding cocktails. 10 Award-worthy OSCAR COCKTAILS by Mark Addison, author of the award-winning Cocktail Chameleon.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD: Smokin’ Hot Margarita

There is a lot of drinking going on in Quinten Tarantino’s multiple storyline modern fairy tale tribute to Hollywood “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” which made it difficult to zero in one cocktail or storyline.
However, a scene that stands out is the film’s finale, where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character torches a Manson Family member in the pool with his movie-prop flame thrower after making a pitcher of frozen margarita’s– hence the Smokin’ Hot Margarita. Smoked ingredients and flambéed rum are the theatrical elements that bring this classic lime margarita to life.

Ingredients:
1 lime smoked salt;
2oz reposado tequila;
2oz Grand Marnier;
2 oz fresh lime juice;
5 dashes smoked bitters;
1/2 oz agave nectar (optional);
1 tsp. 151 rum to flambé.

THE IRISHMAN: Sundae Surprise Cocktail

The Sundae Surprise is inspired by Al Pacino’s character Jimmy Hoffa in the epic organized crime drama “The Irishman” and his penchant for ice cream sundaes. This cocktail, which is more of an Italian ice dessert, celebrates characters’ Irish and Italian heritage with the inclusion of both Irish whiskey and two Italian Amaro. The cocktail’s proportions resemble that of a Negroni – an iconic Italian cocktail of three spirits in equal portions – shaken, then drizzled over a sphere of shaved ice and topped with Italian black cherries.

Ingredients:
1 oz Irish Whiskey;
1 oz Amaro Montenegro;
1 oz Select Aperitivo;

1917: Old Fashion Cherry Bomb Cocktail

Here the old fashion – made famous in the early 20th century – is updated with the use of Cognac to reflect the French location of the WWI film “1917”, tea syrup as nod to the English soldiers in the center of the story, and cherry bitters as a symbolic reference to cherry blossoms depicted in the war – torn French countryside. “Bomb” in the cocktail name represents the barrage artillery the characters contend with, symbolized by a single brandy – and – spice – soaked cherry.

Ingredients:
2 oz Cognac;
1 tsp English tea syrup;
3dashes cherry bitters.

PARASITE: Bloody Soju

Bloody is an apt description of the climax in the Korean dark comedy – thriller “Parasite.” The Bloody Soju is an Asian – style Bloody Mary with a Korean grain spirit, Soju replacing traditional vodka as the base spirit. The flavor profile incorporates Asian ingredients with a distinct Korean spice mix as the seasoning as well as spiced rim mixture and is crowned with a Korean pickled shrimp.

Ingredients:
1 tsp. Korean Spice Mix;
1 lemon wedge;
3 oz.Soju (Korean grain spirit);
3 oz. tomato juice;
1/2 tsp. grated fresh ginger;
5 dashes soy sauce;
1 tsp. rice wine vinegar;
1 dash Sriracha* (hotchili sauce);
1/2 oz.Yuja juice (Japanese yuzu), or substitute lemon juice.

JOKER: No Joke Cocktail

Knock, Knock… who’s there? No Joke. No Joke, who? No joke, Joaquin Phoenix’s character in the psychological thriller origin story “Joker” – is seriously disturbed! The Joker’s red, white and green clown-like makeup is the inspiration for this layeredcocktail that only looks menacing but tastes like a delicious
peppermint patty confection. The dramatic layered effect is achieved by slowly pouring the well-chilled red, green, white, and clear ingredients over the back of a spoon in their order of density so that they float on top of each other.

Ingredients:
1/4 oz grenadine;
1/4 oz green crème de menthe;
1 oz crème de cacao;
1/2 oz heavy cream;
1 oz vodka.

JOJO RABBIT: Mein Hare Cocktail

A witty name play on Mein Herr – a humorous or ironic Germanic form of address to a man – replacing “herr” (man) with “hare” (a rabbit). The Mine Hare cocktail, loosely based on the modern-day classic cocktail the Naughty German, which is anappropriate description of the characters at the center of the Nazi-mocking dark satire “Jojo Rabbit.” German gin takes the lead role with a supporting role played by everyone’s naughty German spirit Jägermeister in this satire of a cocktail, resembling a Tom Collins.

Ingredients:
2 oz Gin;
1/2oz Jägermeister;
1/2oz Crème de Cassis;
1 oz fresh Lemon Juice;
1/4oz simple syrup;
Club soda.

FORD V FERRARI: Race Car

The Race Car is a high-powered take on a Side Car cocktail, which matches thehigh velocity of the 24 hours of Le Mans race in Ford V Ferrari. Over-proofedBourbon fuels this racecar-inspired cocktail, and the charred lemon wheel garnish symbolizes the scorched race car tires which threaten the drivers as they push their vehicles to the limit.

Ingredients:
1 oz high – proof bourbon;
1 oz Lemon juice;
1 oz Grand Marnier.

MARRIAGE STORY: Manhattan Sunset & LA Sunset

The dramatic comedy “Marriage Story” requires two cocktails as it follows a married couple (Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver) going through a coast – to – coast divorce as they battle over east coast vs. west coast residency. The Manhattan vs. LA cocktail battle is on and which cities’ version of the classic
“sunset” cocktail is up for deliberation – mediation may be required… The Manhattan Sunset borrows its base ingredient, rye whiskey from the classic Manhattan cocktail. At the same time, the LA Sunset stays more faithful to the Tequila Sunrise but with a decidedly LA vibe.

Ingredients:
2 oz rye whiskey;
1/2oz triple sec;
3 dashes orange bitters;
1/2 an orange;
slice 1/2 oz Campari.

LITTLE WOMEN: Brandy Punch

This recipe is a variation on a punch from The Bon Vivant’s Companion, a cocktail guide published in 1862, and Mark Addison’s book COCKTAIL CHAMELEON. The coming-of-age drama Little Women, set in the 1860s where punches were the mainstay of entertaining and holidays and brandy, was the spirit of choice. The use of tea in this fruity cocktail alludes to punch’s Indian origins, and the green variety lends lighter flavor notes and a lovely color.

Ingredients:
1 green tea bag;
1 orange slice;
1 fresh pineapple slice;
1 Tbsp. powdered sugar;
1 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice;
1 1/2 oz brandy;
1 oz raspberry liqueur;

Garnish:
1 fresh pineapple slice;
1 orange slice;
1 Maraschino cherry;