Three Oscar Inspired Cocktails

By: The Food Hunter

It’s almost time for the long-awaited Oscar night, and our bartender friends have whipped up three celebratory cocktails inspired by this year’s biggest nominees. While the A-listers show off their red carpet looks, you can treat your viewing party guests to a selection of cocktails giving a nod to this year’s big ticket nominees: The Revenant, Joy and Mad Max: Fury Road.

Celebrate Best Actor Nominee Leonardo DiCaprio with…The Bear Claw
Recipe created by John Henderson of The Happiest Hour NYC

After a “grizzly” bear attack, we’re certain Leonardo DiCaprio’s Revenant character could have used a life-sustaining cocktail… amongst other things. With an orange swath reminiscent of a bear claw, this morphing Maker’s Mark cocktail is surely the perfect drink to cheer on Revenant for a Best Picture win. 

2 parts Maker’s Mark Bourbon

¼ part Cherry Heering

1 dash Chocolate Mole Bitters

1 2x2 cola cube*

¾ part soda water

Orange swath

Place one cola cube into a short rocks glass; add Maker’s Mark, bitters, and soda water. Drizzle Cheery Herring over the top of the ice cube (which will slowly sink to the bottom of the cocktail for bloody effect!); stir briefly to incorporate and express an orange swath over the surface of the drink. *Cola cube: Freeze Mexican Coca-Cola overnight in a 2x2 ice cube tray

Celebrate Best Picture Nominee Mad Max: Fury Road with…The Furious Skull

Recipe created by John Henderson of The Happiest Hour NYC

If there’s one thing Mad Max and Furiosa could have used after their high-speed chase through the desert, it could’ve been a refreshing ice cold drink to take the edge off. In this cocktail, the ice cube is the star, and is also a nod to the skull-like mask worn by the merciless villain Immortal Joe.

1 ½ parts Sugar Island Spiced Rum

¾ part sweet vermouth

1 dash Angostura bitters

1 Campari ice cube*

In a short rocks glass, combine Sugar Island Rum, sweet vermouth and dash of Angostura bitters. Place the Campari ice cube in glass and if desired, garnish with a SMALL pinch of pink salt. As the salt hits the cube, it will spur the Campari cube to melt.

*Campari ice cube: Overnight, freeze a mixture of Campari and water in a skull-shaped mold, at a ratio close to 50:50

Celebrate Best Actress Nominee Jennifer Lawrence (from Joy) with…The Spill-Proof Shot

Created by Niccole Trzaska, The Liberty

J. Law’s character in Joy became an overnight success by inventing the Miracle Mop, and has been known to take a few on-stage tumbles in real life. But lucky for you, no clean-up will be necessary with these spill-proof gelatin shots that you can make ahead of your viewing party.

 

Makes 12-14 gelatin shots

5 ounces Ménage à Trois Straight Vodka  

5 ounces water

5 ounces Tres Agaves Margarita Mix 

1 Packet of Gelatin

Mix all ingredients until smooth and no bubbles appear. Pour into gelatin molds in the shape of your choice. Set in refrigerator until it becomes a gel (Gelatin is not a solid nor a liquid it is both. So the higher the alcohol the thinner the mixture will be)